Politics & Government

Worcester 2021 Election: When, Where To Vote

Polls open in Worcester at 7 a.m. on Nov. 2. Here's everything you need to know about the 2021 election.

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Who will work in Worcester City Hall in 2022 and beyond? Voters will pick on Nov. 2.
Who will work in Worcester City Hall in 2022 and beyond? Voters will pick on Nov. 2. (Neal McNamara/Patch)

WORCESTER, MA — In 2021, Worcester voters have a lot of choices in front of them.

As usual, there's a big field of candidates seeking At-Large City Council seats, including six incumbents. The At-Large race also includes the mayoral race, which will see incumbent Mayor Joseph Petty facing off against Councilor Donna Colorio.

There are also two contested district City Council races. In District 5, Etel Haxhiaj, the top vote-getter in the Sept. 14 primary, will face off against former state trooper Gregory Stratman in an open race. In District 1, Councilor Sean Rose is facing a challenge from Worcester police Sgt. Richard Cipro.

The 2021 School Committee race will likely be the final time voters pick candidates on an at-large basis. After a federal lawsuit earlier this year, the city is likely going to create School Committee districts similar to the City Council system. There are eight candidates aiming for six seats in 2021.

To help voters prepare for Election Day, Patch has put together a voting guide to help pick candidates and find where to vote — plus other pertinent election information.

Where, When To Vote

Polls are open in Worcester on Nov. 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are 50 polling locations across Worcester's 10 precincts. You can plug in your address on the City Clerk's website to find your polling location.

If you're voting absentee (also known as mail-in voting), you can drop your ballot off at any polling location, plus City Hall and any fire station. Find a list of drop sites here.

Who's on the ballot

Patch sent almost every candidate running for City Council, mayor and School Committee a questionnaire — even candidates who are running unopposed (the exceptions were District 1 and District 5). Click on the links below to learn more about each candidate. Candidates with an (i) are incumbents.

Worcester Mayor

At-large City Council (pick six)

Why are mayoral candidates also running for City Council? Under Worcester's council-manager for of government, voters elect the mayor from among the At-Large candidates. Basically, At-Large candidates pick whether they will also run for mayor. To win, the mayor must get the most votes in the mayoral election and place in the top six of At-Large candidates.

City Council District 1

The race between incumbent Sean Rose and challenger Richard Cipro has been one of the most heated of the 2021 cycle. Cipro has accused Rose of failing to properly represent the district, and the first-time candidate got more votes than Rose in the Sept. 14 primary. Rose has said Cipro is a divisive figure due to a police union Facebook page he cofounded. Rose has also highlighted that Cipro will not be able to vote on issues related to the police department. Cipro's role as a police officer puts him in conflict with state ethics laws. The two candidates met face-to-face on Oct. 21 for a debate in the district.

City Council District 2

City Council District 3

City Council District 4

  • Sarai Rivera (i)

City Council District 5

In District 5, residents will get a new Councilor in 2021 because Matthew Wally is seeking an At-Large Seat. Worcester Patch was able to tag along with Haxhiaj while she went door-to-door along far west Pleasant Street (Stratman did not take us up on an offer to tag along with him on the campaign trail).

Worcester School Committee (pick six)

Worcester 2021 Election Results

Patch will be covering the Nov. 2 election live, and will send out an alert about results as soon as they are available. Sign up for free email alerts here.

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