Election Day: What Winchester Residents Need to Know

Winchester Republican and Democrat voters will head to the polls Tuesday for the presidential primary and state committee races.

As part of Super Tuesday, 10 states will pick Republican and Democrat nominees for November's presidential election.

Polls in Winchester open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Town Clerk Mary Ellen Lannon said that she’s hopeful there will be a good turnout for the vote today.

“It’s always tough to quote the turnout,” Lannon said. “I hope people come out to vote. There’s also local Republican and Democratic Town Committee members on the ballot and I hope people support them.”

Lannon said that in 2008 Winchester had a 40 percent turnout, and she thinks the town should approach that number again.

Most residents will be voting in their usual polling location as Precincts 1 and 2 will vote at the ; 3 and 4 are at , while 7 and 8 will cast their votes at the

However, due to construction at the Precincts 5 and 6 will be voting at the . According to Lannon, there will be parking spaces designated for voters and the Jenks will be closed for its daily activities to allow residents to cast their vote.

As for the ballot, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is up against challengers Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Ron Paul of Texas and Newt Gingrich of Georgia. 

Although they've dropped out of the race, Michelle Bachman, of Minnesota, Jon Huntsman, of Utah, and Rick Perry, of Texas, will also appear on the Republican ballot.

President Barack Obama is the lone candidate on the Democratic ballot.

Voters also will vote on party state and town committee members.

Republicans have 33 residents on the ballot for the town committee, leaving two open seats on the committee, which can have a maximum of 35 people. 

There are two men – Albert Turco of Wakefield and Robert Aufiero of Medford – running for one spot on the Republican State Committee. Brittany Carisella of Wakefield is the lone woman running for the one open spot for the State Committee.

Democrats have 27 candidates running for town committee, but have only one man – Joseph Lawless, III of Malden – and one woman – Betsy Sheeran of Wakefield – running for State Committee.

Green-Rainbow voters have three candidates in their presidential primary.

Candidates include: Jill Stein, Kent Mesplay and Harley Mikkleson.