By Beth David, Editor
Voters in Massachusetts who do not want to wait until election day, but who also want to vote in person, may cast their votes for president and state offices starting on Saturday, 10/17, during specified hours. Voters may also use mail-in voting to avoid the polls on election day.
In Acushnet
All early voting in Acushnet is at the town clerk’s office at the Parting Ways Building, 130 Main Street.
Hours are: Sat. & Sun., 10/17 & 18, from 8 a.m. to noon. Monday through Friday (two weeks), 10/19–23 and 10/26–30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. And Sat., 10/ 24 from 3–7 p.m.; and Sun., 10/25, from 8 a.m. to noon.
In Fairhaven
All early voting in Fairhaven is at the Council on Aging/Senior Center, 229 Huttleston Avenue.
Hours to vote in person before election day are: Saturdays & Sundays, 10/17, 10/18, 10/24, 10/25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Monday through Friday (two weeks), 10/19–23 and 10/26–30, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
By Mail
To vote by mail, contact the Secretary of State’s office to have a mail-in ballot sent to you https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleev/early-voting-by-mail.htm, or call 1-800-462-VOTE (8683), or 617-742-2828, or email elections@sec.state.ma.us. Or contact your local town clerk’s office by October 20.
After you fill out your mail-in ballot (be sure to follow all directions, including where to sign), you may mail it to the clerk’s office or you may drop it off in person before or on election day. In Fairhaven you may drop it into the special slot at the clerk’s office to the right of the front door in town hall. In Acushnet, you may drop it off in the black box at the front of the Parting Ways Building, or in the mail slot in the door.
Mail-in ballots that are received by mail or in the drop off slot are time-stamped as received and are kept secured until election day, when they are routed to the proper precincts.
At the precinct, poll workers use the name on the outside of the yellow/manila envelope to check in/ check out the voter, just as you would if you went in person. The ballots are then removed from the envelopes and fed through the machine to be counted as any other ballot.
Fairhaven Assistant Town Clerk Linda Fredette said the office expects a 90% turnout based on the number of mail-in ballots already sent in (yes, 90%, that’s not a typo).
And although they have hired extra poll workers, it will take a very long time to tally up the votes.
“We’re gonna be here all night,” said Ms. Fredette. “It’s gonna be fun, fun, fun.”
You may track your ballot at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/track/trackmyballot.aspx
On Election Day 11/3
The polls will be open on Tuesday, 11/3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for those wishing to vote on election day at their regular precinct location.
The Fairhaven Council on Aging is providing transportation services to seniors in need. Call 508-979-4029 at least one day in advance to schedule.
Contacts
Contact your town clerk’s office with any quesions: In Fairhaven, call 508-979-4023, Ext. 3; in Acushnet call 508-998-0200, Ext. 2.
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