It's Election Day: Worcester 2022 Voter Cheat Sheet

WORCESTER, 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 Worcester in 2022:

CPA Ballot Question

Question No. 5 on Worcester ballots (it's on the back) involves adopting the Community Preservation Act. The CPA would place a 1.5 percent surcharge on property tax bills in places on property value above $100,000.

The pot of money generated by the surcharge would go into a special protected account to be used to build affordable housing, preserve historic structures and protect green space. Read more about the Worcester CPA question here.

Kennedy vs. Mair

After a decisive win in the September primary, Democrat Robyn Kennedy appears poised to take the seat held by retiring state Sen. Harriette Chandler — a race that began almost a year ago when Chandler announced her retirement.

But unenrolled candidate Lisa Mair, who bills herself as a "medical freedom senator," is also in the running. Read the Patch profile of Kennedy here, and of Mair here.

LeBoeuf (i) vs. Fullen

State Rep. David LeBoeuf is running for a third term, a bid that comes after a high-profile drunken-driving arrest this year. LeBoeuf sought treatment, and received a sentence that included a 45-license suspension and close to $1,400 in fines.

Fullen, a Republican, previously challenged LeBoeuf in 2018. Fullen's supporters have tried to make LeBoeuf's arrest a central issue of the campaign. Meanwhile, Fullen has sought to cast doubt on election security, telling a story at a recent debate about witnessing possible ballot tampering — which local election officials have not been able to substantiate.

McGovern (i) vs. Sossa-Paquette

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern has won every election since he won a congressional seat in 1996, unseating Republican Peter Blute. In 2022, he's facing a challenge from first-time candidate Jeffrey Sossa-Paquette, a Shrewsbury Republican.

Sossa-Paquette earned headlines over the summer when he harangued McGovern for participating in a drag queen storytime event at Redemption Rock Brewing in Worcester. But Sossa-Paquette has struggled to get support from the Republican National Committee.

DePalo (i) vs. Galonek

Incumbent Democratic Governor's Council member Paul DePalo will face a challenge on Tuesday from Sturbridge Republican Gary Galonek. DePalo, a former Worcester Planning Board member, first won the seat in 2020, and represents a huge portion of central Massachusetts. Galonek has previously served on the Sturbridge Zoning Board of Appeals and as a member of the Tantasqua School Committee.

The Governor's Council advises the governor on "appointments, warrants for the state treasury and pardons and commutations."

Evangelidis vs. Fontaine

One of the few local elected Republicans, Sheriff Lew Evangelidis is seeking to continue his decade-long reign over the county prison, plus civil processing (lawsuits, evictions) and the community corrections program. David Fontaine, a Paxton Democrat, is the first person to challenge Evangelidis since 2010.

Gobi (i) vs. Amorello

Not to be confused with Auditor candidate Anthony Amore: Holden Republican James Anthony Amorello is challenging Democratic state Sen. Anne Gobi for the Worcester and Hampshire District seat. The district lines were changed after the 2020 Census to include the southwest side of Worcester along the Leicester town line.

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