This Weekend: Early Voting, Beats on the Beach & All That Jazz

updated 8/27/25 with Sunday evening's Gospel Fest. 

There's lots going on in the neighborhood this weekend from early voting to the 15th annual Boston Jazz Festival to the Beats on the Beach Block Party, and did we mention it is all free? 

The Preliminary Municipal Election takes place on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. 
The last day to register to vote in the preliminary election is this Saturday, August 30th. You may register online or by mail.
Early voting starts this Saturday, August 30th and Sunday, August 31st at the Condon School from 11am to 7pm at 200 D Street. Tuesday, September 2nd, through Friday, September 5th, you may vote early at City Hall Haymarket Room. Hours are: Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 8pm and Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 5pm. There are 4 candidates for Mayor (pick 1), 3 candidates for District 2 City Councilor (pick 1) and 10 candidates for the 4 City Council At-Large seats (pick 4). The top two vote getters for Mayor and District 2 and the top 8 for At-Large will advance to the November 4th election. View Early Voting Ballot for South Boston wards 6 & 7. 

The 15th Annual Boston Jazz Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday, August 29-30 2025 Maritime Park in Boston’s Seaport District from 5:00 -10 PM Friday . Saturday b12:00 Noon till 10:00 PM. Each year, BJF features performances by some of the best jazz musicians in the business! View line up by clicking above.

Save The Harbor/Save The Bay Beats on the Beach Block Party

When: 8/30 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

What: Pull up for a night of free music, art, and food on Lawn on D! Featuring acts from Chelita, Deevo Da Genius, Lilith, TOMO, ToriTori, DJ Rayvino. Hosted by DJ WhySham. Shop at a 40+ vibrant local art mart with art, crafts, clothes, jewelry, and more!

Where: The Lawn on D, 420 D St.

The 25th Annual Boston Gospel Fest, is taking place on August 31st at the Leader Bank Pavilion, 290 Northern Ave. This vibrant celebration of gospel music will fill the air with uplifting melodies and powerful performances. The free event kicks off at 5 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m.  Doors will open at 4 p.m.   

originally published 08.26.25

FPNA Joins Downtown, Wharf District & Leather District in Councilor-At-Large Candidates Forum

updated 10/25/23 with Candidate Forum live stream by South Boston Beat.

 FPNA invites you to a special

Boston City Council At-Large Candidate Forum

hosted in conjunction with
Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association
Leather District Neighborhood Association & Wharf District Council


Tuesday, October 24, 2023
5:30pm to 7:30pm
networking at 5pm
Atlantic Wharf
290 Congress Street
Fort Point Room, 2nd floor
View Candidate Forum

Meet and speak directly with candidates, plus hear public candidate remarks on Public Safety, Community Engagement & Climate Resiliency.

featuring At-Large Candidates (in alphabetical order)

Clifton Braithwaite
Ruthzee Louijeune*
Julia Mejia*
Erin Murphy*
Bridget Nee-Walsh
Shawn Nelson
Henry Santana
Catherine Vitale

*running for re-election

District 2 Sample Ballot

Please note the Candidate Forum replaces our October Neighborhood Gathering.  

Boston City Council Election

 

The November 7th election will select both At-Large and District City Councilors.

 

The Boston City Council has 9 District Councilors and 4 At-Large Councilors, all of whom have the same legislative and voting powers, but may perceive their roles and who they represent differently. 

 

District City Councilors are elected by the residents of a single area of Boston, known as a District. The District boundaries are updated every 10 years, after the decennial census — and this upcoming 2023 Election will be the first to use the new District Map adopted after the latest redistricting.

 

At-Large City Councilors are elected by the whole city.

 

November 7th Election Details

Voter Registration Deadline: October 28th
Register to Vote | Check Your Registration

Early Voting: Sat, Oct 28 - Fri, Nov 3

Vote by Mail: October 31st Application Deadline

Election Day: Tue, Nov 7 from 7am to 8pm at District Hall, 75 Northern Ave for residents of 02210

Are You Ready For September 14th Preliminary Election?

09/04/21:updated with Dorchester Reporter City Councilor-At- Large candidates' priorities article and election day hours and location.

Plan on voting in the upcoming Boston mayoral & City Council preliminary election on September 14, 2021? 

In addition to choosing a Mayor from the seven who are running, there are seventeen candidates vying for four City Councilor-At-Large seats. Check out the Dorchester Reporter for a complete run down of the At-Large candidates and their priorities.  The top two Mayoral candidates and the top eight At-Large candidates will advance to the General Election on November 2, 2021.

The Mayoral Candidates

Annissa Essaibi George 

Richard Spagnuolo 

Andrea Campbell 

Kim Janey 

Michelle Wu 

Robert Cappucci

John Barros 

View September 14th ballot order and let's get out the vote! 

Did you recently move or has it been awhile since you last voted? Check your voting status. The deadline to register or update your information for September 14th election was Wednesday, August 25th. The November 2nd election registration deadline is 8pm on October 13, 2021. 

Early Voting 

Starts on Saturday, September 4, and runs through Friday, September 10. Please note: Any voter registered in Boston can vote at any early voting location.

Boston City Hall is the main early voting polling location. City Hall will be open for voting Tuesday through Friday (Labor Day is Monday, September 6). City Hall will be open for early voting on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am - 8 pm, and on Wednesday and Friday from 9 am - 5pm.

Nearby Early Voting Locations

• Saturday, Sept 4: Condon School from 11am - 7pm at 200 D St (D St & West Broadway behind the Laboure Center)
• Sunday, Sept 5: Condon School from 11am - 7pm at 200 D St (D St & West Broadway behind the Laboure Center)
• Thursday, Sept 9: District Hall from 12 pm - 8pm at 75 Northern Ave. 

Vote By Mail

To vote by mail, your application must reach the Boston Election Department by 5pm, Wednesday, September 8, 2021. If you did not receive your application by mail, you may download the application here. 

If you plan to return your ballot in person instead of mailing it, there will be dedicated drop boxes (locations tbd) across the City, including Boston City Hall. You have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to drop off your ballot. You can also drop off your ballot at any early voting location during the City's early voting period.

Election Day

On Tuesday, September 14th the polls will open at 7am through 8pm. Fort  Point & Seaport residents vote at the Condon School located at 200 D Street (D St & West Broadway behind the Laboure Center).

originally published 08.23.21

Tuesday Is Election Day

On Tuesday, November 7, 2017, Boston residents go to the polls to elect a Mayor, four City Councilors-At-Large and a District City Councillor.  The polls are open 7 am - 8 pm. 

For residents of Fort Point and the Seaport, the place to vote is the Condon School located at 200 D. Street (off of W. Broadway and behind the Laboure Center).

View District 2 Sample Ballot to see who is running 

and how the candidates will appear on the ballot. 

Exercise your civic right and vote. 

If you live and/or work in Fort Point and the Seaport, then you know the neighborhood is rapidly growing and evolving. Infrastructure improvements can't keep pace with development. We need the City's help to get more city services (fire & police), transportation improvements (buses, bridges & bike lanes), civic/cultural spaces (libraries, schools & community centers), and open green spaces (parks) to support and enhance our community and neighborhood. The Mayor and City Council play an instrumental part, and they look at voter turnout. Please make time in your busy day to vote for our next Boston Mayor, District 2 City Councilor and four Councilors-At-Large. Let the City know we live here and are in engaged in our neighborhood.

Related posts

What Will You Be Doing A Week From Today?

A week from today District 2, which includes the Fort Point and Seaport neighborhoods of South Boston, will have a new City Councilor. In order for that to happen, you must cast your vote in the Boston Municipal Election on:

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

7 am - 8 pm

Condon School

200 D Street

(Off of W. Broadway behind the Laboure Center)

View District 2 Sample Ballot

Also on the ballot are the mayoral candidates and candidates for the four City Councilor-At-Large seats. 

If voting by absentee ballot, you have until noon on November 6th. Visit Boston.gov for more details. Not certain of your voter registration status? Check here.

Still undecided on whether Ed Flynn or Mike Kelley will best represent the neighborhood? The neighborhood associations of South Boston hosted a District 2 Candidates Forum on October 18, 2017. Watch online their answers to our issues.

The Fort Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA) encourages all neighbors to vote. We all count on our elected officials for their support of neighborhood initiatives and issues. Elected officials look at voter turn-out. If you have been to a FPNA monthly gathering, then you know elected officials have been featured speakers, often drop in and send representatives to keep abreast of what the community is saying and doing. 

originally published 10.31.17

Final District 2 City Council Candidates Forum

Join FPNA and our sister South Boston neighborhood associations for this important community event and hear the differences between our final two Boston City Council candidates: Mike Kelley and Ed Flynn.

District 2 City Council Candidates Forum

October 18, 2017

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm (new time)

Mass Bay Credit Union

147 W 4th St (W 4th@ A Sts)

Free Parking

Handicap accessible

Free ride courtesy of Southie Shuttle
5:30 pm departure outside Barlow's Restaurant (241 A Street) 

We all have an important decision to make on November 7th. Make sure you are making an informed decision and then back it up by getting out to VOTE in the final election!

If you are unable to attend, the event will be live streamed on the South Boston Community Bulletin Board on Facebook.

Last day to register to vote is October 18th.

originally published 10.6.17

Are You Ready To Vote?

updated 9/12/17: The South Boston Association of Non-Profits in conjunction with neighborhood associations of South Boston will be hosting a District 2 Candidates Forum on Sept 19th (details below).  

updated 9/11/17: The deadline to request an absentee ballot is September 25, 2017 at 12 pm. More details at Boston.gov. 

Boston's preliminary municipal election is Tuesday, September 26, 2017. On the ballot are four candidates for Mayor and seven candidates for District 2, which includes our South Boston neighborhood of Fort Point and the Seaport. View the complete list of certified candidates in ballot order. There is no preliminary election for City Councillors-At-Large.

Are you registered to vote? To verify that you are registered click here. The registration deadline for the preliminary municipal election is Wednesday, September 6, 2017. You can register online at the Secretary of State website. 

Candidate Forums

A Harbor Candidates Forum will occur at the BSA Space on September 12, 2017 from 5 pm - 7:30 pm. Boston Globe contributor Michael P. Ross will moderate a panel discussion on waterfront issues including development, design, water transportation, climate change, resilience, and equity with candidates from two of Boston’s Harbor districts (districts 1 & 2). Find out more and to R.S.V.P.. 

The South Boston Association of Non-Profits in conjunction with neighborhood associations of South Boston are hosting a District 2 Candidates Forum on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 from 6 pm - 8 pm at UP Academy located at 215 Dorchester St. The event is open to the public.

Election day is Tuesday, November 7, 2017. To vote on November 7th, you must be registered by October 18th. 

originally published 9.6.17

District 2 (That's Us) One & Only South Boston Candidates Forum

South Boston Association of Non-Profits

together with the

South Boston Neighborhood Associations

are pleased to invite you to a

  

CANDIDATES FORUM

Tuesday, September 19^th

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

UP ACADEMY(formerly known as the Gavin)

215 Dorchester Street – South Boston

This is your opportunity to get to know all 7 candidates,

who would like to represent you as your next City Councilor!
 

Boston's Municipal Primary Election is Tuesday, September 26,

2017. The top two vote-getters will be on the ballot in November. 

originally posted 9.14.17

Related Post

Boston City Council Looks At Logan Flight Patterns, Small Businesses Week & Artists, Elections & More

Councillor-At-Large Michelle Wu provides notes from Boston City Council meetings. The Boston City Council considered the items below and more at their April 15th and April 22nd, 2015 meetings:

2015 Preliminary Municipal Elections: The Council voted unanimously to move the date of the Preliminary Elections in Boston from September 22nd, 2015 (the 3rd Tuesday after the 1st Monday in September), to September 8th, 2015, in observance of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur holidays. September 29th, 2015 was not an option because by law there must be 60 days between the Preliminary and Final elections, so this would keep the rest of the Election calendar intact. 

Logan Airport Flight Patterns: Councilors Zakim and McCarthy reported back on a hearing held by the Special Committee on Transportation, Public Infrastructure, Planning & Investment on the FAA's changes to flight paths at Logan Airport that have resulted in a concentration of flights over Boston neighborhoods. This recent change has the planes flying low over neighborhoods and leading to increased noise and pollution. Councilor McCarthy asked that this issue remain in committee to give the FAA an opportunity to respond and to have working sessions. He also recommended that we include our federal representatives in those working sessions.

Boston Arts Academy Renovations: The Council voted unanimously to approve the $1.7 million dollar feasibility study and design of Boston Arts Academy. The item received its first reading and vote on April 1, 2015. Today was the 2nd vote, in accordance with the proceducre for approving appropriations and loan orders. 

Acoustic on Main: Acoustic on Main is a 10-day initiative to help neighborhood small businesses recover from a tough winter, while also showcasing the city’s arts and culture talent by encouraging acoustic performances throughout Main Streets districts (no permitting involved!).
In concert with National Small Business week May 1st-10th, any Main Streets small business is invited to host acoustic performances with up to 5 instrumental or vocal performers between 4-9 PM - no need to apply for a live entertainment license and no fees.  The below registration links are to help the City track and promote participation.  An official promotional website will be coming soon.  Please help encourage businesses and performers to register, and save the dates to spend time in our neighborhood small business districts May 1st-10th!
Musician Registration and Business Registration

Paid Parental Leave: Today the Council's Government Operations committee held a public hearing on the Paid Parental Leave ordinance that Councilors McCarthy, Jackson, and Wu introduced in partnership with Mayor Walsh at the March 25th City Council meeting.  The ordinance would require the City to offer paid leave to new parents—moms AND dads—for birth, stillbirth, or adoption, and including same-sex couples.  Currently, there is no paid leave available, so new parents must use vacation or sick days if they wish to spend time with their new baby but can’t afford to take unpaid leave. (See more details of the ordinance and the text at www.michelleforboston.com/paid-parental-leave).

For complete notes from the April 15th and April 22nd meetings, visit www.michelleforboston.com/notes or sign up to receive these notes automatically each week by email at www.michelleforboston.com/sendmenotes.