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Vote by mail will be available for the Nov. 3 election. There will be no changes to past practices, following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Voters who want a mail ballot should apply for one by Tuesday, Oct. 27. Earlier is better to assure receiving a ballot in time. Voters who have already requested a mail ballot for “all elections” do not need to fill out an application again; their mail ballots will be sent automatically.
Voters can apply for a mail ballot at the Town Clerk’s office in Town Hall, 322 Concord Rd., or online at www.VoteInMA.com.
Lisa Davis, Town Clerk, expects to mail ballots to voters who have requested them starting the week of Oct. 13. A specimen ballot for the election is expected to be posted on the clerk’s website by Oct. 14.
Davis noted that two cards, each 18 inches long, make up this year’s ballot, to accommodate the nine statewide ballot questions plus a question 10 on the Sudbury ballot. She urged mail ballot voters “to be sure to return both cards in your ballot envelope, even if you don’t vote on the ballot questions.” A sticker on the yellow return envelope reminds voters of a multiple-page ballot.
That yellow return envelope must be signed for the ballot to be counted.
If the envelope is not signed, the clerk’s office will reject that ballot and, if time permits, send a second ballot to the voter with a letter explaining the need to vote again and sign the envelope. If an unsigned envelope is received close to Election Day, the clerk’s office will attempt to contact the voter and tell them they have the option to vote in person.
Voters can track the status of their mail ballot at www.VoteInMA.com.
Mail ballots cannot be returned to polling places. Mail ballots can be returned to the dropbox behind Town Hall, available 24/7, or to the clerk’s office; the deadline to use the dropbox or deliver in person is 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots can also be returned by U.S. mail as long as there is sufficient time for them to be received at the clerk’s office by the deadline. Ballots mailed in the U.S. must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by Nov. 6. Ballots mailed from outside the U.S. must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 13.
The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election is 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. You can register at the Town Clerk’s office or online at www.VoteInMA.com. You can also use that website to check your registration status or update your registration information.
Election officials urge voters to consider voting by mail or by in-person early voting Oct. 17-30 to avoid any delays on Election Day as voters read through the lengthy ballot.
Additional information is available on the Town Clerk’s website.
