WCAC

To avoid crowds in next week’s state primary election, Waltham voters can cast ballots early at the former Bright School at 260 Grove Street.

The polling station will be open to all Waltham registered voters from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Voters must wear masks and adhere to social distancing.

The state primary is on Tuesday, September 1.

Voters may also submit mail-in ballots for the primary in a box at the early voting location.

Waltham city clerk Bob Waddick said his office received roughly 10,000 requests for mail-in ballots for the state primary alone, but added that it’s unknown how many mail-in ballots will actually be sent.

Tuesday’s primary is dominated by a high-profile U.S. Senate race between two Democrats: incumbent Senator Ed Markey and Congressman Joe Kennedy III.

In local races, two familiar faces are running for re-election as Democratic state reps.

State rep John Lawn faces Alison Leary, a Newton city councilor, in the Democratic primary for the 10th Middlesex District, representing parts of Watertown, Waltham and Newton.

Lawn, who lives in Watertown, has held the seat since 2011.

Meanwhile, longtime Democratic incumbent state rep Tom Stanley is running unopposed in the state primary. He holds the seat for the 9th Middlesex District, which includes parts of Waltham and Lincoln.

But Stanley will face off against one of his colleagues on the Waltham city council, George Darcy, in the general election on Tuesday, November 3. Darcy is on the ballot as an unenrolled candidate.