Boston Election: Michelle Wu vs. Josh Kraft for Mayor

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Mayor Michelle Wu and Josh Kraft, son of the New England Patriots owner, face off today in Boston's preliminary municipal election, a key day that will determine who advances to the general election on November 4.

What is being decided today?

• Voters will choose the two main mayoral candidates, who will face off in November.
• The two finalists will also be determined for each City Council district, except for Districts 3, 6, 8, and 9, where there will be no preliminary elections.
• For the At-Large councillor election, the eight candidates with the most votes will be chosen to advance to the general list.

Featured Competition: Michelle Wu vs. Josh Kraft

Mayor Michelle Wu, the first woman and first Asian-American to lead the city, leads the polls by a wide margin over Josh Kraft. According to a recent Emerson College poll, Wu has 721% support, compared to Kraft's 22% support. Furthermore, Wu's record as a staunch opponent of President Trump's policies has bolstered her progressive image.

Key details for voters

• Voting hours: Polls are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm
• Early voting: It was available from August 30th through September 5th (excluding the September 1st holiday) at multiple locations throughout the city, including City Hall and community centers, with accessibility and multilingual staff.
• Absentee ballotThe deadline to request a ballot was September 2nd, 5 p.m. Ballots must be received by the Elections Department by 8 p.m. on Election Day or delivered in person to one of the 22 secure drop boxes located throughout the city.
• Accessible votingAvailable for people with disabilities who are unable to physically mark the ballot. Applications must be submitted by September 2 at 5 p.m.
• Electronic check-in: All 275 precincts will use tablets (“Poll Pads”) to expedite voter registration.
• Ballot distribution and logisticsEarly ballot download and tabulation began at City Hall on September 1. Ballots received after 2 p.m. on September 9 will be processed after the polls close.

What's next?

The two leading candidates elected today will compete in the November 4 general election. The ballots will also include candidates from the district and general council races. With approximately 422,000 registered voters in the city and a historic 25% turnout in previous primaries, a significant turnout is expected, boosted by more than 25,000 early votes already cast.

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Sources:

• Telemundo New England
• Axios Boston