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Mayor’s race: Higher turnout expected for Boston’s preliminary election – Metro US

Mayor’s race: Higher turnout expected for Boston’s preliminary election

ballot vote election Casting a ballot.
Credit: Getty Images

The state’s chief election official is predicting a higher turnout than in recent years for Tuesday’s preliminary election in the mayor’s race.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin said on Monday that state election officials are prepared to help Boston and other cities holding preliminary elections this week.

The last mayoral preliminary election in Boston drew about 81,000 voters to the polls. This year, with 12 candidates running to replace Mayor Thomas Menino, Galvin predicted “a much higher voter turnout.”

The top two vote earners in Tuesday’s preliminary will face off in the general election in November.

Besides the mayor’s race, voters will have to narrow the field of city council candidates. There are nearly 40 people running for an at-large or district city council seat.

With so many campaigns vying for voters, Galvin reminded volunteers that state law bans campaigning within 150 feet of a polling place.

“There will be many candidates and campaigners out there tomorrow,” Galvin said, “but it is absolutely essential that the voter have a zone of privacy in which to cast a ballot without any political interference.”

Polls in Boston open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.