The midterms and gubernatorial election are just a couple of weeks away, and soon the endless barrage of campaign ads will come to a sweet, sudden halt. But first, there’s voting.

Here are some things to know for the Nov. 3 election.

1. The candidates

First, there’s the race for governor. Democrat Maura Healey is running for a second term, while Republican Mike Minogue, medical device company CEO, is hoping to defeat her for the chance to lead the commonwealth’s executive branch.

There’s also a statewide race for U.S. Senate, with Democratic Sen. Ed Markey on defense against Republican challenger and Bolton attorney John Deaton.

U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, having clobbered his primary challenger last month, is on the general election ballot unopposed.

All three of Newton’s state representatives—John Lawn, Amy Sangiolo and Greg Schwartz—are on the ballot unopposed.

2. The ballot questions

This year, there are a whopping nine ballot questions, and several of them propose some really big changes for the commonwealth.

• Question 1 asks if the governor’s office and the state legislature should be included in the state’s public information law. Currently, they are not. A “yes” vote adds them to public records compliance law, and a “no” vote leaves things as they are now, with those offices exempt from public records law. Check out this story by Briana Leibowicz Turchiaro.
• Question 2 asks if defense attorneys should be allowed to unionize and engage in collective bargaining. A “yes” vote gives labor organizing rights to the Committee of Public Council Services (which includes the state’s licensed public defenders), and a “no” vote would leave things as they are. Check out this story by Nazalia Justiniano.
• Question 3 asks if there should be “all-party primaries” for statewide elections in Massachusetts. A “yes” vote would mean that all parties hold their primaries together and the top two vote-winners, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. A “no” vote would leave our primaries as they are, with each party nominating someone for the general election. Check out this story by Briana Leibowicz Turchiaro.
• Question 4 asks if voters in Massachusetts should be allowed to register on the day they vote. Currently, voters have to register 10 days or more before an election. A “yes” vote would implement same-day registration, while a “no” vote would keep the 10-days-prior policy. Check out this story by Nazalia Justiniano.
• Question 5 asks if the state should change its formula for a 1987 state revenue limit law. The law requires that the state’s revenue be limited to the sum of the state tax revenue limit for the prior tax year and the average growth of wages and salaries over the past three  years. A “yes” vote on Question 5 would change the state’s revenue limit to the sum of the net amount of state revenue the year before and the average growth of wages and salaries in the state over the past three years. A “no” vote leaves the limit as it is. Check out this explainer from Commonwealth Beacon.
• Question 6 asks if the state should establish a state fund to be used for nature conservation, funded by tax revenues from sporting goods, recreational vehicles and golf courses. A “yes” vote would create such a fund, and a “no” would prevent one. Check out this explainer from Commonwealth Beacon.
• Question 7 asks if the state should overrule local zoning policies by allowing, by right, single-family homes on residential lots that have 5,000 square feet of land, have more than 50 feet of frontage area on a street or public way, and have access to public sewer and water. A “yes” vote makes that a by-right policy statewide, while a “no” vote would keep things as they are. Check out this explainer from Commonwealth Beacon.
• Question 8 asks if the state should make cannabis possession illegal again. In 2016, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot question that legalized recreational use and sale of cannabis in the state. A “yes” vote on Question 8 would repeal that legalization and force all recreational cannabis businesses to close. A “no” vote would allow the cannabis industry to continue to operate. Check out this explainer from Commonwealth Beacon.
• Question 9 asks if a gun control law should be upheld. A “yes” vote upholds House Bill 4885, which the governor signed into law and which implements an electronic gun registration, bans assault-style firearms and “ghost guns,” and more. A “no” vote repeals that law. Check out this explainer from Commonwealth Beacon.

3. When and where

The election will be Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Polling places are all around the city and are specific to neighborhoods and addresses. Newton’s city website has a complete map of the city’s wards and precincts as well as a page where residents can enter their address and find their exact polling place for Election Day.

Early voting will be held at City Hall (first floor) on the following days and times: 

• Saturday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 19, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 20, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
• Wednesday, Oct. 21, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 22, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 23, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 16, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday. Oct. 28, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 29, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 30, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 24. And the last day to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 27.

Voters can find more information, including sample ballots, on the city website.