Dedham Voter Turnout Predicted Normal Despite Contested Races

A primary for a mid-term election may not get the usual juices flowing in voters to head to the polls, but contested Democratic primary races for district attorney and state Senate should pull people to the polls, Dedham's town clerk said Monday.

"In the past we've had 30 percent [turnout], and that's with only a couple contested races," said Paul Munchbach. "I was hoping for closer to 40 percent with all the contested races, but the amount of interest coming into our office leads me to believe that it'll still be a little over 30 percent."

A battle between Michael Rush, a current state representative, and politicial newcomer Michael Walsh are vying for the vacant seat left by the retirement of Marian Walsh (no relation).

The primary election will draw out "staunch Democrats" and "super voters" - people that vote in every election, said Munchbach.

A lack of a local candidate running opposed plays into the expectation of average voter turnout, Munchbach said.

"Our representative [Paul McMurtry] is running un-opposed, so there is no local draw," he said.

Munchbach spent Tuesday prepping the ballots for Tuesday's election, and didn't see the normal rush to hand in absentee ballots that he usually does the day before an election.

The clerk's office saw some "stranglers" turn in ballots when a line usually forms, even for a primary.

"We haven't had much interested at all [for absentees]," he said.

In comparison to the January vote in the Martha Coakley-Scott Brown race and the Avery School vote, which garnered 1,800 absentee votes, the office has sent out 150 ballots, and hasn't received all of them back.

The Norfolk County district attorney's race could also draw out new voters, Munchbach said.

State Sen. Michael Morrissey, state Rep. Joseph Driscoll and former assistant district attorney Michael Chinman will duel for the Democratic nomination for district attorney. There are no challengers in other parties for the position.

"I think that will draw out some of the interest. Voters that don't normally come out for the primary, that's why they'll come out.

"People seem to be talking about who is going to be our new D.A. and who's going to be our new state Senator," he said.