ACTON - Standing outside a polling place here, retiring state Sen. Pam Resor, state Rep. Jamie Eldridge and state House candidate Jen Benson said how much they are already enjoying Election Day.

"It's exciting," Benson, a Lunenburg Democrat, said. "I like greeting people as they come over to vote."

Benson, who is running for Eldridge's seat in Middlesex's 37 District against Boxborough Republican Kurt Hayes, said she voted at 7 a.m. in Lunenburg. Benson is also scheduled to appear at this Acton polling place with Congresswoman Niki Tsongas later on Tuesday afternoon.

Eldridge, who is running for Resor's Middlesex-Worcester state Senate seat against Marlborough Republican Steven Levy, said he is also excited for the high turnout. Eldridge said he believes voters will cast their ballots for him because of the work he has done on issues like healthcare, the environment and securing local aid in the state House of Representatives.

"The voters are going to reaffirm the work that I've done in the past six years as a legislator," he said.

Resor, who endorsed both Eldridge and Benson, said Eldridge is ready to step up to the upper chamber.

"Jamie has the experience," she said.

The state senator also praised Benson for her work on Lunenburg's School Committee. New state legislators benefit greatly from working on the local level, Resor said. Those that don't have that experience, she said, may struggle when they first get to Beacon Hill.