Medford Offers Early Voting for 1st Time

| October 2, 2016 | City Hall, Election 2016, Featured | No Comments

The Board of Registrars of Voters of Medford are excited to announce that all registered voters will be able vote before Election Day for the first time ever in Medford, Massachusetts. Early voting will begin on October 24th and continue through November 4th, 2016.

Prior to the enactment of this new law, the only way a registered voter was allowed to vote prior to Election Day was through absentee voting. Although absentee voting will still be available for registered voters who qualify, only those who will be absent from their city on Election Day, or have a disability that prevents them from going to the polls, or have a religious belief preventing the same, are legally allowed to vote by absentee ballot.

Unlike absentee voting, early voting is for every registered voter. Registered voters do not need an excuse or reason to vote early. Regardless of whether a voter wants to take advantage of early voting, vote absentee or vote on Election Day, the first step is making sure you are registered. To check to see if you are registered to vote, and to find information on how to register to vote, you may visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: www.sec.state.ma.us/ele. If you need to register to vote, you may do it online by visiting: www.RegisterToVoteMA.com. All you need is a license or an I.D. issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles to apply online.

To be eligible to vote in the November 8th State Election, you must register to vote or make any necessary changes to your voter registration by October 19th, 2016.

Early voting can be done in person or by mail. In Medford, early voting can be done in person at Medford City Hall, 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, Massachusetts, during the following dates and times:

– October 24, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
– October 25, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
– October 26, 8:30 AM – 7:30 PM
– October 27, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
– October 28, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
– October 29, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM*
– October 30, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM**
– October 31, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
– November 1, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
– November 2, 8:30 AM – 7:30 PM
– November 3, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
– November 4, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

For public convenience, Medford has also decided to offer weekend hours on October 29- 9:00 AM-1:00 PM* (Saturday) and October 30- 9:00 AM-1:00 PM (Sunday).

Also, registered voters have the option to request an early voting ballot through the mail. Simply fill out an application and mail it to Registrars of Voters, 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Room 102, Medford, MA. 02155. You can find the application on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: www.sec.state.ma.us/ele.

Please note, however, once a voter has cast an early voting ballot, the voter may no longer vote at the polls on Election Day.

For the first time in Massachusetts, the first choice all voters will make is which day to vote. Early voting will make the most fundamental right of our citizens more convenient than ever to exercise. We encourage all of our citizens to exercise that right and take advantage of the opportunity to vote on their schedules.

Central tabulation for early voting will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 in the Howard F. Alden Memorial Auditorium from 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM.

For further information, contact Registrars of Voters Office at 781-393-2491.

– Submitted by City Clerk Ed Finn