Wayland 2022 Voting Guide: Candidates, How To Vote

WAYLAND, MA — Election Day 2022 is here, and no one would blame you if you feel like it's arrived without much fanfare.

The 2022 statewide elections in Massachusetts haven't been hotly contested, especially in the race to replace Gov. Charlie Baker. On Monday, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin (who is up for election against Republican Rayla Campbell) issued his pre-election forecast of about 2.2 million votes, down about 500,000 from the 2018 statewide election.

Galvin said there's "not a lot of enthusiasm" about the main 2022 contests.

But that doesn't mean there aren't important local races on the ballot.

Before you head to the polls on Nov. 8 (or to a ballot drop box), here's a cheat sheet on all the local items you'll be voting on, plus tips on how to vote.

Where, When To Vote

Polls in Massachusetts will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 8. Find out where to vote here, and find out if you're registered to vote here.

If you're voting by mail, you can drop off your ballot at the clerk's office and in any ballot drop box — but not at polling locations. You can also mail your ballot on Election Day, but it won't be counted if it arrives after Nov. 11. Your best bet is the drop box or handing it off in-person.

The deadline to register to vote passed on Oct. 22, and the deadline to request a mail-in ballot passed on Oct. 25.

Local Issues

If you're looking for statewide issues, including candidates and ballot questions, Patch has put together a guide here. Here are the local races to watch for in Wayland in 2022:

Clark (i) vs. Colarusso

Stoneham Republican Caroline Colarusso (a prolific community contributor on Patch) is facing a steep uphill climb in 2022 against U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, the assistant House sepaker No. 2 ranking Democrat. When the two met in 2020, Clark won with about 74 percent of the vote in the 5th Congressional District, which extends from Winthrop east to Holliston.

Eldridge (i) vs. Christakis

Incumbent state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, consistently one of the chamber's most progressive members, is facing a challenge this year from Wayland Republican Anthony Christakis, who has been endorsed by GOP gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl. Eldridge has been in the state Senate for 14 years, and has also spent part of 2022 campaigning on behalf of a new state law that allows undocumented residents to get driver licenses — which is also the subject of Question 4.

Unchallenged

There will be plenty of lonely names on your ballot. The following officials aren't facing a challenge in 2022: state Rep. Carmine Gentile; state Rep. David Linsky; Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan; Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian; and 3rd District Governor's Council representative Marilyn Devaney.

Wayland Patch will bring you election results as soon as they come in. Sign up for our email newsletter here.