Soggy Start To North Shore Primary Day With Several Contested Races

BEVERLY, MA — Primary voting day got off to a soggy start across the North Shore as residents went to the polls to determine candidates for the Nov. 8 general election.

There were contested state representative contests on the Democratic side for open seats in the 7th and 8th Essex districts, State Sen. Joan Lovely faced a primary challenge in the 2nd Essex district and there were Democrat races for Essex County district attorney and sheriff.

In both state representative races — as well as the DA and sheriff's races — there are only Democratic candidates on the ballot, meaning that whoever tops the voting totals Tuesday night will in all likelihood serve in those seats next term.

Also of key interest on the North Shore were the two races for lieutenant governor — where Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll is vying to be Attorney General Maura Healey's running mate on the Democratic side in November, and former Peabody state representative Leah Allen, who lives in Danvers, is facing former state representative Kate Campanale on the Republican side.

Voters who requested and received mail-in ballots have until the close of the polls (8 p.m.) to return them. They must be returned to the respective clerk's office or a voting dropbox — those cannot be cast at the polls.

"The weather looks like rain," Beverly City Clerk Lisa Kent said. "Do not let that stop you. Your vote counts.

"Please keep (the elements) in mind as you receive your ballot. Wet or damp ballots do not go through the voting machine well. Please do your best to keep your ballot dry."

As of 6:30 p.m., there were 7,002 votes cast in Beverly out of 30,259 registered voters. This total includes early and absentee voters in the city.

Primary day got off to a shaky start on the Cape Tuesday morning when election workers could not open the vault holding the Barnstable ballots. The town requested additional ballots from the Secretary of State's office and said polls will remain open later Tuesday night to compensate for the time lost in the morning.

Here is what you need to know to vote in several North Shore communities on Tuesday:

Beverly 2022 Primary Voter Guide: Where To Vote, Candidates

Danvers 2022 Primary Voter Guide: Where To Vote, Candidates

Marblehead 2022 Primary Voter Guide: Where To Vote, Candidates

Peabody 2022 Primary Voter Guide: Where To Vote, Candidate

Swampscott 2022 Primary Voter Guide: Where To Vote, Candidates

Salem 2022 Primary Voter Guide: Where To Vote, Candidates

Check back with Patch after the close of polls for results and reactions as soon as they are available.

Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)