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Annual Town Election--Postponement

Chapter 45 of the Acts of 2020
AN ACT GRANTING AUTHORITY TO POSTPONE 2020 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND INCREASE VOTING OPTIONS IN RESPONSE TO THE DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY TO RESPOND TO COVID-19.

Approved, March 23, 2020

Under authority of Chapter 45 of the Acts of 2020 and per vote of the Select Board on 4/6/2020, the North Reading Annual Town Election has been re-scheduled to:

 TUESDAY -- JUNE 23, 2020

The polling hours will be between
12 Noon -- 6:00 PM
as permitted under MGL 54:64
 
Both the change of date for the 2020 Town Election and the reduction in polling hours were made in consideration of the safety and health of the public due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 
 
NOTE:  There are NO contested races for this election
 
 

Under the provisions of Chapter 45 of the Acts of 2020, expansion of Absentee Voting and the opportunity to Early Vote By Mail are available for 2020 Muncipal Elections

This allows for the unrestricted opportunity for voters to exercise their right to vote from their own homes -- in a safe and protected environment.

All COVID-19 precautions will be adhered to at the Polls
*Social Distancing--Limits on Gatherings--Facial Coverings*
Avoid lines and wait times -- Vote by Mail
 
VOTERS ARE URGED TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING ALTERNATIVES TO  'IN-PERSON' VOTING ON ELECTION DAY:
ABSENTEE VOTING
In addtion to the existing allowable reasons for ABSENTEE VOTING, the Act allows any persons exercising precautions related to COVID-19 to also be able to vote by absentee ballot.  Applications for absentee ballots must be received by the Town Clerk's Office before noon on Monday June 22, 2020, the last business day before the election.  Any voter may apply for an absentee ballot by submitting the signed application OR a signed letter/request  which provides the voter's name, registered address and address where to mail the ballot, and forward the same to the Town Clerk’s Office by the application deadline.  A family member may apply for an absentee ballot on behalf of the voter.
 
EARLY VOTING BY MAIL

The Act provides the availability for Early Voting By Mail  (NO "in-person" Early Voting is available).  All applications for early voting ballots must be received before noon on Monday June 22, 2020, the last business day before the election.  Any voter may apply for an early voting ballot by submitting the signed application OR a signed letter/request which provides the voter's name, registered address and address where to mail the ballot, and forward the same to the Town Clerk's Office by the application deadline.  Only the voter may apply for an Early Voting Ballot -- family members may not do so.

Both Absentee Ballot and Early Voting Ballot requests may be submitted by mail, email or fax.
However the actual signature of the person requesting the ballot is REQUIRED.
Signed written requests are required under the Law -- no verbal or telephone requests.
Electronic signatures are NOT acceptable.
! ! ! No applications or requests for ballots can be processed without a signature ! ! !
 
ALL ABSENTEE AND EARLY VOTING BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSE OF THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY:
TUESDAY -- JUNE 23, 2020 BY 6:00 PM
 
Click here for an  Absentee Ballot  Application
Click here for an  Early Voting By Mail  Application
 
ALL ABSENTEE AND EARLY VOTED BALLOTS ARE TABULATED ON ELECTION DAY
 
YOUR VOTE ALWAYS COUNTS WHETHER
IN-PERSON -- ABSENTEE -- EARLY VOTED
 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon Chapter 45 of the Acts of 2020115.64 KB
PDF icon Select Board Vote to Postpone and Limit Polling Hours136.52 KB