ELECTION-DAY VOTING PROCEDURES

Town Election -- June 23, 2020
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE
TO VOTERS FOR ELECTION-DAY VOTING ON JUNE 23rd
 
The Annual Town Election will take place on TUESDAY, JUNE 23rd between the hours of 12:00 Noon and 6:00 pm.  The Election was postponed from May 5th due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as allowed under special legislation and by vote of the Select Board.  In addition to the date change, it was also determined that limiting the in-person polling hours to 6 hours (as allowed under Mass General Laws) was also a necessary precaution under the current circumstances.
 
Absentee and Early Voting by mail has been available without restriction to any registered voter under these current circumstances as an alternative to voting in-person on Election Day.   Detailed information on this process has been printed in “The Transcript” and continues to be available on the website.  For additional information on voting by mail click here or contact the Town Clerk's Office at 978-357-5230.  Click here to view a sample ballot for the Town Election.   
 
On Election Day, safety protocols issued under the Governor's Order, as well as by our local Public Safety Officials, will be observed at the polls for the safety and protection of all the Election Staff, as well as all the voters. These should be well-understood by now, but since they are very important they are also worth reviewing:
 
  • If you are ill or have a fever -- please stay home.
  • If you have unexplained chills, cough, sore throat, muscle pain, shortness of breath or new loss of taste or smell -- please stay home.
  • A mask, bandana, scarf or other facial apparel that covers your nose and mouth should be worn before entering the polls and not removed until exiting the polls.
  • Please respect  6' distancing at all times -- social distancing will be observed both in waiting lines to enter the polls, as well as within the polling area; please be patient. 
Persons who do not follow these protocols are placing others at risk, who may in turn unknowingly expose their own family members or other persons.  These safety measures have been shown to be effective in curbing the spread of this virus, and we will be expecting all persons to adhere to them for the greater safety of all.  
 
In order to minimize exposures at the Polls please note the following:
 
  • Street Directories will be posted on the walls if you do not remember from which Precinct you vote;
    • To find your Precinct ahead go to:  www.WhereDoIVoteMA.com or call our office;
    • There will be no "Information Table"  workers to assist you in finding your Precinct.
  • All Election staff will be wearing masks and may have gloves and face shields, as well.
  • Check-in and Check-out tables will either have Plexiglas shields or be configured to maximize proper distancing.
  • Each Precinct polling area will be configured to maximize proper distancing between voters with limited booths in each Precinct to accommodate a limited number of voters at a time -- please be patient. 
    • While waiting in line, please exercise 6' distancing from all other persons at all times.
  • Voting booths will be wiped-down regularly with sanitizing wipes or spray.
  • In order to prevent cross-contamination, a disposable pencil will be provided to each voter at the Check-in table together with their ballot, after the voter provides their address and name:
    • No ballot marking pens or pencils will be in the booths; please take the pencil with you;
    • Alternatively a voter may bring their own black or blue pen to mark their own ballot; 
    • The tabulators can read black, blue or hard lead pencil markings, but no other colors; 
    • Red pens are limited for use by Election staff for the purpose of marking the voting lists.
  • After marking their ballot, the voter will go directly to the Check-out table with their ballot and pencil, and once again state their address and name. 
  • After depositing their ballot into the tabulator, the voter should promptly exit the polling area through the rear exit doors (voters with accessibility issues will still be escorted to the door closest to their parked vehicle); 
    • No lingering or socializing will be permitted.
  • In order to avoid cross-contamination, there will be no "I Voted" stickers at the check-out area. 
  • A trash receptacle will be located by the rear exit doors to dispose of the marking pencil and any PPE that the voter wishes to discard;
    • Please discard all items only in the trash receptacle and NOT anywhere on Church property.
These precautions are necessary to provide a safe voting environment, and for the protection of all voters, as well as the Election Staff to the greatest extent possible.   
 
Kindly also recognize that ALL of the Election staff have  volunteered to assist at this Election -- they are willing to be at the polls to provide voters with the opportunity to vote in-person.   Please respect all of these necessary precautions for their safety as much as your own, and please be sure to thank them for their willingness to serve you -- the voter -- under these challenging circumstances.
 
If you are still considering voting by mail, signed applications or requests for ballots will be accepted through noon on Monday, June 22nd, however voters should apply earlier as this process is reliant on postal delivery.  Returned ballots must be received back by 6:00 pm at the close of the polls on Election Day -- Tuesday, June 23rd.   
 
Thank you for your understanding and anticipated compliance with these procedures, in order that we can all experience a safe voting environment.   If you will be voting in person on June 23rd, we will look forward to assisting you there.
 
Please contact the Town Clerk's Office for any additional information or questions:  978-357-5230.