This guide is part of an independent site that also hosts an archive of Stephen G. Ternullo's public social-media posts. It is not affiliated with any candidate, campaign or election office. Every fact below is cited to an official record or a named source, and statements by the campaigns are labeled as theirs. For official election information, contact your town clerk.
At a glance
| Office | Massachusetts House of Representatives, 31st Middlesex District |
|---|---|
| Election Day | Tuesday, November 3, 2026; polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.[1] |
| Candidates | Michael S. Day (Democrat, incumbent) of Stoneham[2]; Stephen G. Ternullo (Republican) of Stoneham[3] |
| Who votes | All of Stoneham, and Winchester Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8[4] |
| Registration deadline | Saturday, October 24, 2026[1] |
| Early voting | Saturday, October 17 through Friday, October 30, 2026[1] |
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Tue., Sept. 1 | State primary. Day and Ternullo were each unopposed for their party's nomination (results below).[5][6] |
| Tue., Oct. 13 | The state's recommended last day to mail a Vote by Mail application.[1] |
| Thu., Oct. 15, 7 p.m. | Candidates' forum with Day and Ternullo, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Winchester.[7] |
| Sat., Oct. 17 – Fri., Oct. 30 | In-person early voting.[1] |
| Tue., Oct. 20 | The state's recommended last day to apply online for a mail ballot.[1] |
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Voter registration deadline: online until 11:59 p.m., by mail postmarked by October 24, or in person by 5 p.m.[1] |
| Tue., Oct. 27, 5 p.m. | Vote by Mail applications must reach your local election office.[1] |
| Mon., Nov. 2, noon | Stoneham: last time to vote by absentee ballot in person at the Town Clerk's office, for voters who qualify (see below).[8] |
| Tue., Nov. 3 | Election Day, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.[1] |
Who votes in this race
The 31st Middlesex District covers all seven Stoneham precincts and seven of Winchester's eight precincts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8.[4] Winchester Precinct 6 was moved to the 15th Middlesex District in the 2021 redistricting, so voters there will not see this race on their ballot.[9] You can find your precinct and polling place with the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Where Do I Vote lookup.
You must be registered by Saturday, October 24, 2026 to vote in this election.[1] You can register or check your registration at VoteInMA.com.
| Town | Registered | Democratic | Republican | Unenrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stoneham | 17,810 | 4,321 | 1,604 | 11,730 |
| Winchester | 16,991 | 4,303 | 1,432 | 11,165 |
About two-thirds of registered voters in each town are unenrolled, meaning they are not enrolled in a political party. The table leaves out voters enrolled in other political designations, so its columns do not add up to the total.
How to vote in Stoneham
Early voting
Early voting is in the Town Clerk's Office, Stoneham Town Hall, 35 Central Street, 1st floor.[8]
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday, Oct. 17 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Monday, Oct. 19 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Oct. 20 | 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Oct. 21 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Thursday, Oct. 22 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 23 | 8 a.m. – noon |
| Saturday, Oct. 24 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Monday, Oct. 26 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Oct. 27 | 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Oct. 28 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Thursday, Oct. 29 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 30 | 8 a.m. – noon |
Election Day
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on November 3.[8] All seven Stoneham precincts voted at Stoneham Town Hall, 35 Central Street, in the April 7, 2026 town election.[11] The town's election page did not list the November 3 polling place when this page was last updated, so please confirm yours with the state's polling place lookup.
Absentee voting in person
Until noon on Monday, November 2, you can vote by absentee ballot at the Town Clerk's Office if you have a good-faith belief that you will be out of town during polling hours, or if a physical disability or religious belief prevents you from voting during polling hours.[8]
Stoneham Town Clerk's Office: 781-279-2650, townclerk@stoneham-ma.gov.[8]
How to vote in Winchester
Early voting
Early voting is in the Winchester Room at Town Hall, 71 Mount Vernon Street, 1st floor.[12][13]
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday, Oct. 17 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. |
| Monday, Oct. 19 – Thursday, Oct. 22 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 23 | 8 a.m. – noon |
| Saturday, Oct. 24 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. |
| Monday, Oct. 26 – Thursday, Oct. 29 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 30 | 8 a.m. – noon |
Election Day
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on November 3 at Winchester High School.[12] The school is at 80 Skillings Road, where all eight precincts voted in the 2026 town election.[14]
Ballot drop boxes are at the front and rear doors of Town Hall.[13] Winchester Town Clerk's Office: 781-721-7130.[12]
Voting by mail
Any registered Massachusetts voter can vote by mail without giving a reason. Your Vote by Mail application must reach your local election office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The state recommends applying earlier: by October 13 if you are mailing the application, or by October 20 if you apply online.[1]
You can return your ballot by mail, in your town's secure drop box, or by hand at an early voting location or your local election office. If you have not mailed your ballot within one week of Election Day, the state strongly recommends returning it by drop box or in person.[1]
The candidates
| Michael S. Day | Stephen G. Ternullo | |
|---|---|---|
| Party | Democratic | Republican |
| Hometown | Stoneham[2] | Stoneham[3] |
| Status | Incumbent; state representative since January 2015[15] | Challenger[16] |
| 2026 primary | 5,339 votes (unopposed)[5] | 1,350 votes (unopposed)[6] |
| Campaign website | electmikeday.com | ternulloforrep.com |
| Full profile | Michael S. Day | Stephen G. Ternullo |
Candidates' forum
The League of Women Voters of Winchester is hosting a forum with both candidates on Thursday, October 15, 2026, 7:00 p.m., at Stoneham Town Hall, 35 Central Street. The League notes that in-person space is limited. The forum will be livestreamed at u.peg.tv/s/tdsaa1.[7]
2026 primary results
Both candidates were unopposed in the September 1, 2026 state primary. These are certified results.[5][6]
| Candidate | Ballot | Stoneham | Winchester | Total | Blank | Ballots cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael S. Day | Democratic | 2,791 | 2,548 | 5,339 | 1,313 | 6,687 |
| Stephen G. Ternullo | Republican | 908 | 442 | 1,350 | 535 | 1,898 |
Past results for this seat
Michael S. Day has held the seat since winning it in 2014. Certified results for each election since then:[15]
| Year | Election | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Democratic primary | Michael S. Day 2,941 (56.9%); Michael Bettencourt 2,226 (43.1%) |
| 2014 | General election | Michael S. Day (D) 9,270 (51.4%); Caroline Colarusso (R) 8,759 (48.6%) |
| 2016 | General election | Michael S. Day (D) 14,528 (58.8%); Caroline Colarusso (R) 10,163 (41.1%) |
| 2018 | General election | Michael S. Day (D) 13,000 (59.4%); Caroline Colarusso (R) 8,195 (37.4%); Kateen R. Kumar (unenrolled) 692 (3.2%) |
| 2020 | General election | Michael S. Day (D) 17,479 (71.4%); Elizabeth R. Harrah (unenrolled) 6,921 (28.3%) |
| 2022 | General election | Michael S. Day (D) 12,527 (70.9%); Theodore Christos Menounos (unenrolled) 5,079 (28.7%) |
| 2024 | General election | Michael S. Day (D), unopposed: 16,753 votes; 157 votes for all others; 8,413 blank ballots |
Statewide ballot questions
Nine statewide questions are on the November 3 ballot. The descriptions below are quoted from the state's official voter guide. The Attorney General and the Secretary of the Commonwealth write them jointly, as state law requires. The guide also has each question's full text and the arguments for and against.[1]
| Question | A YES vote… | A NO vote… |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Expanding the Public Records Law | would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law. | would make no change to the Massachusetts Public Records Law. |
| 2. Collective Bargaining for CPCS Employees | would specify that Committee for Public Counsel Services employees may form a union to collectively bargain with their employer. | would make no change to the law governing labor relations for Committee for Public Counsel Service employees. |
| 3. State Primary Elections | would eliminate separate party primaries for state elections and require a single primary in which all candidates appear on one ballot, voters could vote for any candidate, and the top two candidates would advance to the general election. | would make no change to the laws governing primary elections. |
| 4. Election Day Registration | would permit eligible citizens to register to vote or to update their voter registration address at their polling place on Election Day. | would make no change to the laws governing voter registration. |
| 5. State Revenue Limit & Rebate | would change the limit on state revenue collection, tying it to prior year collections plus average wage and salary growth, and provide for a rebate of revenue exceeding that limit. | would make no change in the law relative to state revenue collection. |
| 6. Natural Resource Conservation Fund | would create a fund that could be utilized for natural resource conservation that would receive some state taxes collected on the sale and use of sporting goods and recreational vehicles, and the use of golf courses. | would not create this natural resource conservation fund or change how sales and use taxes are spent. |
| 7. Single Family Homes | would allow single-family homes to be built on lots of 5,000 square feet or more in residential areas, subject to reasonable local regulation of certain aspects of those homes. | would make no change to the law relative to building single-family homes. |
| 8. Prohibit Retail Sale of Adult Recreational Use Marijuana | would prohibit the legalization, regulation, and taxation of the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana, and change the penalties for possession of marijuana. | would make no change to the law relative to marijuana. |
| 9. Firearms Regulation | would keep in place the law, which increases the regulation of firearms, including ghost guns, machine guns, and assault-style weapons. | would repeal this law. |
Question 9 asks voters whether to keep Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024, "An Act modernizing firearm laws."[17][18] Rep. Day's office has credited him with leading the effort to pass that law; his profile covers the legislative record.[19]
Sources
- Information for Voters: 2026 (official voter guide, including ballot question summaries). Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Representative Michael S. Day: profile and committees. The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Stephen G Ternullo for State Representative (campaign website). Ternullo campaign.
- 2024 State Representative, 31st Middlesex, General Election (precinct results). Massachusetts Election Statistics (Secretary of the Commonwealth).
- 2026 State Representative, 31st Middlesex, Democratic Primary (precinct results). Massachusetts Election Statistics (Secretary of the Commonwealth).
- 2026 State Representative, 31st Middlesex, Republican Primary (precinct results). Massachusetts Election Statistics (Secretary of the Commonwealth).
- 31st Middlesex District Candidates Forum, Oct. 15, 2026. League of Women Voters of Winchester.
- Elections & Voter Registration. Town of Stoneham, Town Clerk.
- Redistricting moves Winchester Precinct 6 to the 15th Middlesex District. Daily Times Chronicle, October 2021.
- Enrollment Breakdown as of 02/01/2025. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Annual Town Election warrant, April 7, 2026 (in May 4, 2026 Town Meeting minutes). Town of Stoneham.
- Winchester town clerk releases early voting dates for Nov. 3 election. Winchester News, October 2, 2026.
- Winchester to hold early voting, find out if you're registered (submitted by Town Clerk MaryEllen Marshall). Winchester News, August 19, 2026.
- Winchester 2026 town election guide. Winchester News.
- Candidate profile: Michael Seamus Day. Massachusetts Election Statistics (Secretary of the Commonwealth).
- Candidate profile: Stephen G. Ternullo. Massachusetts Election Statistics (Secretary of the Commonwealth).
- 2026 Ballot Question 9. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024. The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Rep. Michael S. Day named chair of Committee on the Judiciary (submitted by the Office of Rep. Day). Winchester News, March 11, 2025.