According to Tricia Detterman, Plympton Town Clerk, there were nearly triple the number of votes cast in Tuesday’s primary – 779 votes in all – or 34% of voters.
Barbara Gaynor, Halifax Town Clerk, saw a similar increase in ballots cast with 32.4% of registered voters in Halifax casting 1,934 ballots, either through early voting at the Clerk’s office in the Halifax Town Hall, mail-in ballots, or voting on election day. “We processed well over 1,000 mail-ins… it was definitely a busy day,” Gaynor said.
The most hotly contested race was that for Senator in Congress, with longtime incumbent Edward J. Markey challenged by Joseph P. Kennedy, III.
While Markey won the election statewide, both Plympton and Halifax ticked the Kennedy box for their choice, with 285 for Kennedy in Plympton and 253 for Markey. Halifax voters chose Kennedy 724 to Markey’s 583.
Republican candidates for Senator in Congress saw Kevin O’Connor victorious over Shiva Ayyadurai, with 373 to her 223 in Halifax, and 135 votes to 95 votes in Plympton.
State senator Michael D. Brady (D-Brockton) handily won his race for re-election, beating his challenger, former Brockton Mayor Moises M. Rodrigues 323 to 181 in Plympton, and in Halifax, 783 to 436.
The Democratic race for County Commissioner saw five candidates vying for two seats. Greg Hanley won with 651 votes, and second was John Patrick Riordan with 497 votes in Halifax. Plympton also gave Hanly and Riordan the nod with 257 and 207 votes respectively.
Republican Jared Valanzola ran unopposed for the County Commissioner taking 501 votes in Halifax and 182 votes in Plympton.
Halifax hometown favorite Summer Schmaling ran unopposed on the Republican ticket for Representative in General Court. She took 542 votes in Halifax and 209 in Plympton.
Democrat Kathleen LaNatra, incumbent for Representative in General Court, took 1,099 votes in Halifax and 463 in Plympton.
Democrat Bill Keating of Bourne, incumbent, took 467 votes in Plympton and 1,118 in Halifax. On the Republican side, Helen Brady took 498 votes in Halifax and 188 votes in Plympton.
Matthew J. McDonough, Democrat for Register of Probate, took 448 votes in Plympton and 1053 in Halifax. There was no Republican candidate on the ballot.
Plymouth County Treasurer Thomas J. O’Brien took 1083 votes in Halifax and 448 votes in Plympton running unopposed on the Democratic ballot. Republican Carina Leeza Mompelas won 454 votes. in Halifax and 180 votes in Plympton.
The Councillor race saw 1077 votes for Democrat Christopher Ianella, Jr. There were no Republicans on the ballot for that position.
The presidential election, a mere 60 days away, will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Plympton Town Clerk Tricia Detterman has already put out the word that she will be looking to augment her crew of election workers for the Nov. 3 election, expecting a heavy turnout.