By now, Massachusetts registered voters should have received a postcard inviting them to apply for a mail-in ballot. Secretary of the Commonwealth Galvin was required by law to mail the applications to vote by mail off by 15 July, and it looks like his office was successful. If you have NOT received this postcard, please check your voter registration!
As you have likely read or heard on the news, Governor Baker signed the law allowing for changes in how the primary and general elections are held this year. The goal is to thin the crowds on election day and protect the health of Massachusetts voters and poll workers. Happily, this also opens up new routes to cast your vote this year, so if getting to the polls on election day was in some way an impediment, you have many options!
VOTE BY MAIL (or DROP-BOX)
Fill out the postcard mailed to you recently or draft your own letter to the City Clerk requesting a mail-in ballot (deadlines below). You can request vote by mail ballots for both the primary and general elections at once, if you so choose. The ballot(s) will be mailed to you when printed. You can drop your completed ballot off with the clerk, return it by mail, or (and this is new) deposit it in a special “drop-box.” The drop-boxes are similar in size and security to US mailboxes and will be bolted to the ground. As of this post, the city clerk expects to have two delivered by expedited service for 1 September and an additional two for 3 November. They will be stationed around Salem. These drop-boxes will be a permanent change. Unlike other provisions of the law passed to make voting safer this fall, drop-boxes will be allowed to be used in elections after 31 December 2020 without passing a new law.
Note: all registered voters are entitled to vote by mail (or drop-box) this fall. This a temporary provision for 2020 only. However, normal Massachusetts absentee voting rules remain in effect. These absentee voting laws apply in special circumstances, for example Massachusetts voters living overseas or people who are hospitalized in the week preceding an election.
IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING
As of this post, early voting is planned for the City Hall Annex at 98 Washington Street (dates below). The City is working on enhancing the parking situation at the Annex. Our trusty Department of Public works personnel will be sanitizing and disinfecting all voting sites before each day’s use.
ELECTION DAY VOTING
There will also be in-person voting on primary and general election days. But remember, as much as everyone is comfortable with doing so, we should vote by mail or drop-box or by early voting to cut down on the chances of catching or spreading COVID-19 through crowds.
In the very near future, the City Clerk will ask the City Council to approve the list of polling locations and hours for early voting and election day voting.
IMPORTANT DATES
The PRIMARY will be held on Tuesday, 1 September 2020
The last day to register or change parties for the primary is Saturday, 22 August
Vote by Mail applications must be received by Wednesday, 26 August
There will be 7 days of early in-person voting for the primary:
Saturday, 22 August–Friday, 28 August
The GENERAL ELECTION will be held on Tuesday, 3 November 2020
The last day to register for the general election is Saturday, 24 October
Vote by Mail applications must be received by Wednesday, 28 October
There will be 14 days of early in-person voting for the general election:
Saturday, 17 October–Friday, 30 October
The City Clerk will be posting the hours as soon as the City Council approves the final plan.
The City Clerk may need new workers this year, so if you are interested, please contact Ilene Simons. We have been tremendously impressed with the clerk’s office. There are a lot of changes to manage and there will be a constant stream of ballot requests and then ballots, in addition to the extended in-person voting options. However, the clerk’s office has been handling this with aplomb and looking at new initiatives to ensure that every voter in Salem has access to the polls. If you see an employee (and recognize them despite the mask), please express your appreciation. But maybe the best way to express your appreciation is to vote by mail or drop-box and send an email of thanks!