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- 2020 Voter Options Guide
2020 Voter Options Guide
On July 6th the Governor signed new legislation - An Act relative to voting options in response to COVID. This legislation outlines options for voting in the November 2020 election Vote by Mail, Vote in Person or Vote on Election Day November 3, 2020.
ELECTION TYPE | DATE OF ELECTION | ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS | ELECTION DAY HOURS |
DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE | VOTE BY MAIL DEADLINE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Register to vote here! | Vote by mail application | ||||
State Election (aka Presidential) | November 3 | Muraco, McCall, VO and Lynch | 7AM - 8PM | October 24 | October 28, 5PM |
In Person Early Voting | October 17 - 30 | Winchester Room, Town Hall, 1st Floor | Regular Office Hours, Sat/Sun 8AM - 12PM | October 24 | October 28, 5PM |
View sample ballots at https://www.winchester.us/641/VOTE-2020
Vote on Election Day- All Elections are held at the same four Elementary School Gyms – Precinct 1 & 2 Muraco School 33 Bates Rd, Precinct 3 & 4 McCall Middle School 458 Main St, Precincts 5 & 6 Vinson Owen School 75 Johnson Rd and Precincts 7 & 8 Lynch School 10 Brantwood Rd. Click on where do I Vote: to find you location: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx
Click here to view the Precinct Map: https://www.winchester.us/DocumentCenter/View/245/Precinct-Map-PDF---Town-Wide-Map
What you need to know / bring in advance of going to the polls to vote on Election Day to vote
- Wear a Face Covering
- Bring a Pen – Blue or Black ink Paper Mate Flair (if you don’t want to use the pens the Town supplies)
- Bring a Clip Board or Book to mark your ballot on (if you don’t want to use a Voting Booth)
- Bring an ID – in some cases voters will be required to show an ID.
- Don’t touch your face while at the polling location
- Maintain Social Distancing – keep 6’ away from anyone not from your household
- Keep your ballot dry and free from hand sanitizers – to avoid tabulator issues
VOTE BY MAIL - All registered voters qualify to vote by mail for the November 3, 2020 election. Application post cards have been mailed to ALL registered voters, at their mailing address, who have not already applied to receive a vote by mail ballot as follows:
APPLY EARLY - to allow ample time for processing your application and for the postal services to deliver your ballot to you. Voters who receive a vote by mail ballot but do not return it prior to Election Day may appear to vote in person on Election Day to cast a ballot. Any voter that has returned a vote by mail ballot (or voted early in person) cannot vote on Election Day.
Applications can be returned by Mail (postage is pre-paid on the post card application mailed to you), scanned & emailed to townclerk@winchester.us or you may apply for a Vote by Mail ballot online at
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleev/early-voting-by-mail.htm
TRACK YOUR APPLICATION AND BALLOT - Voters who have applied for a vote by mail ballot may use this link to track the status of their application as well as their ballot status (mailed / received back). If you want to see if you have an application on file click on the Track my Ballot link above. Put your name and address in the fields and if it comes up with the word “Pending” that means we have an application in the system, labels have been printed and affix to the Mail in Ballot envelopes. Ballots are due to arrive the week of October 5-9th.
RETURN OF VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS
Mailed Ballots include a postage pre-paid return ballot envelope that is addressed to the Winchesters Town Clerk's Office. You may return your ballot by mail (please see deadlines below) OR you can use the RED DROP BOXES at the front door of Town Hall as well as the ADA RED DROP BOX at the rear of Town Hall.
Ballots can NOT be returned to the polling location on Election Day - they must be returned to the Town Clerk’s Office for processing before they are delivered by Town Clerk’s staff to the polls to be cast on Election Day. Voters who receive a vote by mail ballot but do not return it prior to Election Day may appear to vote in person and cast a ballot on Election Day. Any voter that has returned a vote by mail ballot (or voted early in person) is not permitted to appear to vote in person on Election Day.
Deadlines for ballots to be returned and counted
- November Election –Ballots may be dropped off in the RED DROP BOXES at the Front and Rear Entrances of Town Hall. If you choose this method ballots must be returned by not later than 8pm on November 3rd.
- Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by November 3rd AND received by the Town Clerk by 5PM on November 6th.
Presidential Election Early Voting in Person
Period: October 17th - 30th
Location: Town Hall – 71 Mt. Vernon St Winchester Room 1st Floor
DAY | DATE | TIMES | LOCATION |
---|---|---|---|
Saturday | October 17 | 8:00 AM - 12:00PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Sunday | October 18 | 8:00 AM - 12:00PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Monday | October 19 | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Tuesday | October 20 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Wednesday | October 21 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Thursday | October 22 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Friday | October 23 | 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Saturday | October 24 | 8:00 AM - 12:00PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Sunday | October 25 | 8:00 AM - 12:00PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Monday | October 26 | 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Tuesday | October 27 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Wednesday | October 28 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Thursday | October 29 | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
Friday | October 30 | 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Town Hall, Winchester Room |
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO VOTE
Educated voters will reduce the amount of time necessary in the voting booths and reduce lines and crowding while voting.
EARLY VOTING (by mail or in person) FAQ:
If I applied for a vote by mail ballot can I appear to vote in person at an early voting site or at the polls on Election Day?
If your vote by mail ballot has not been received back to the Town Clerk’s Office – YES, you may still appear to vote in person at the polls on Election Day. These voters will be required to complete additional paperwork and will need to show an ID. Should your mail in ballot be received after you voted early in person or at the polls on Election Day that ballot will be rejected and will not be counted
If a vote by mail ballot has already been received back by the Town Clerk’s Office – NO.
A returned vote by mail ballot is considered cast and you will not be eligible to vote by mail, early in person or in person at the polls on Election Day.
If I vote early in person can I appear to vote in person at the polls on Election Day?
NO - If you appeared to vote early in person your ballot will be considered cast and you will not be eligible to vote by mail, or in person at the polls on Election Day. Voting in Person at the Polls after submitting an early ballot is prohibited as outlined in 950 CMR 4 7.19.
When & how is an early voter's ballot cast?
All vote by mail and early voting in person ballots will be opened and inserted into the tabulators at the polls on Election Day. These ballots will be kept secured, locked, and unexamined until the polls are closed on Election Day.
Any further questions or concerns please email townclerk@winchester.us or call 781-721-7130 Press #1 for Town Clerk’s Office. Thank you.
MaryEllen Lannon, CMC
Winchester Town Clerk