Final sprint now a marathon in race for at-large council seats

A preliminary election would serve as an early warning of trouble for a vulnerable councilor, giving his or her base six weeks to rally at the polls on Election Day. Activists have mobilized in the past to save incumbents.

“It’s a clarion call to get out the votes in November,’’ said John M. Tobin Jr., who served on the City Council for almost decade before leaving last year. “If you are somebody who needs your base shaken up a bit, that preliminary can serve as a free poll and give a road map of how you should approach things over the next six weeks.’’

But this year, it will likely be a one-day showdown in November. Candidates had until 5 p.m. yesterday to file nomination papers, which for the City Council’s four at-large seats require the signatures of 1,500 registered voters.

At the deadline, it appeared that seven people had enough signatures to make the ballot for the at-large race, although it will take the election department several days to certify the names. A preliminary election would take place only if nine or more candidates were certified.

The at-large candidates who have said they gathered enough signatures to make the ballot include the four incumbents: Stephen J. Murphy, Felix G. Arroyo, John R. Connolly, and Ayanna Pressley. The challengers who said they had the necessary signatures are Flaherty; Sean H. Ryan of Jamaica Plain; and Will Dorcena of Hyde Park.

In addition to four at-large members, Boston’s City Council also has nine district seats up for grabs this fall. A handful of those races will require preliminary elections, which have been scheduled for Sept. 27.

Skipping the citywide preliminary election would save $300,000 to $350,000, city officials estimated.

It will also alter the rhythm of the at-large campaign season, which typically gathers momentum through the summer heading into the preliminary. Candidates must recalibrate their plans with the recognition that the race will not begin in earnest until well after Labor Day.