Massachusetts Early Voting Runs Through Oct. 29
Today's Massachusetts mail and early vote update. We have now cleared 1 million early votes (1,001,725) and are at 29.6% of total 2016 turnout.
— Steve Koczela (@skoczela) October 20, 2020
A record turnout is expected for the 2020 election as states with early voting say they are surpassing numbers from just four years ago. The Washington Post reported that turnout is already at 70 percent of the total early voting numbers of 2016. Massachusetts on Tuesday has already seen more than 1 million early and mail-in ballots two weeks before the election; in 2016, the total for the election was 1,038,144.
Voting in advance or by mail is being encouraged to reduce long lines and potential exposure to the novel coronavirus. Early voting in person began on Oct. 17.
If you are mailing a ballot, the U.S. Postal Service recommends that it have been in the mail by Oct. 20 to ensure it arrives by Nov. 3. You can also drop off your mail-in ballot in person at your town or city hall and many have secure drop boxes for ballots so they can be returned at any time. Make sure the drop box is legitimate -- don't fall for cardboard boxes or handmade signs.
Early in-person voting ends on Oct. 29.
All ballots sent through the mail must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received no later than Nov. 6.
Ballots being dropped off must be delivered by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 and do not require a postmark.
If you are voting on election day, find your polling station here.
If you wish to vote early, you can find the place and hours here. Here are some local locations:
Adams Town Hall: 9 to 4 weekdays; noon to 4 on Saturdays; and 9 to 1 on Sundays.
Cheshire Town Hall: 9 to 4 Wednesday & Thursday (Oct. 21 & 22) and 9 to 5 Tuesday through Thursday (Oct. 27, 28 & 29); 2 to 4 on Saturday; 10 to noon on Sunday.
Clarksburg Community Center: 2 to 4 Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and also 7 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Dalton Town Hall: 8:30 to 4:30 weekdays except Friday; 2 to 4 Saturday; and 9 to 11 Sunday.
Great Barrington Town Hall: 8:30 to 4 weekdays; 2 to 4 Saturday; 10 to noon on Sunday.
Lanesborough Town Hall: 8:30 to 1 weekdays except Friday; 2 to 4 on Saturday and Sunday.
Lee Town Hall: 8:30 to 4 weekdays; 2 to 4 Saturday; 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
Lenox Town Hall: 8:30 to 4 weekdays; 2 to 4 Saturday and Sunday.
North Adams City Hall: 9 to 4 Monday-Thursday; 9 to noon Friday; noon to 4 Saturday; 9 to 1 on Sunday.
Pittsfield City Hall: 8:30 to 4 weekdays; 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday and 8 to 1 on Sunday.
Williamstown Town Hall: 8:30 to 4:30 weekdays; 2 to 4 on Saturday; 10 to noon on Sunday.
Votes will be cast for president, U.S. senator, U.S. representative, state senator, state representative, and register of probate; and for two ballot questions, one on the so-called "right to repair" and one on ranked choice voting. Voters in Williamstown and Lanesborough will also be casting ballots for Mount Greylock Regional School Committee.
