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Election-Day Voting Procedures

ELECTION-DAY VOTING for the STATE PRIMARY
 
The State Primary will take place on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.  All Precincts vote at St. Theresa’s Church on Winter Street (Rt. 62 near Rt. 28). 
 
In North Reading, electronic “Poll Pads” have been used to check-in voters for both Early Voting and Town Meetings ever since their use was authorized in 2016.  As now permitted under recent legislation, for the first time, the electronic Poll Pads will also be used to check-in voters on Election-day rather than on paper voting lists.  A Driver’s License will provide a more direct check-in, but is not required.  Voters may either place their driver’s license on the Poll Pad tray (barcode facing UP) which will display their name and address for checking-in, or the voter can simply state their name and address at the check-in table.  The driver’s license is not for ID purposes, but merely to provide a more direct check-in process.   There will be no check-out list, however there will still be a Ballot Box attendant at the check-out area to assist voters in depositing their ballot.  Ballots should always be inserted into the Ballot Box tabulator gently – not forcefully, which could cause the tabulator to jam. 
 
On Election Day, safety protocols issued under the Governor's Order, as well as by our local Public Safety Officials, will be observed for the safety and protection of the Election staff, as well as all the voters. These include --
  • 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 polling location and not removed until exiting the polls (an exception for medical conditions).
PLEASE RESPECT 6' DISTANCING AT ALL TIMES --
  • Distancing must be observed both in waiting lines 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 COVID-19, and we will be expecting all persons to adhere to them for the greater safety of all.   
 
In order to expedite voting on Election Day, please prepare ahead:
  • There will be no Information Table workers to assist you, however Street Directories and Specimen Ballots will be posted to find your Precinct and review the ballots;
  • If you are an Unenrolled voter, you must choose one of the 4 party ballots for this Primary;
    • Reviewing the ballots ahead of Election-day will hasten your time in the polls;
    • Sample ballots can be viewed HERE;
    • Unenrolled voters will automatically revert back to Unenrolled status after the Primary.               
  • If you are an Inactive voter, before voting you will be required to sign an “Affidavit of Current and Continuance Residency” AND provide an ID which indicates your registered name and voting address (be prepared with ID -- Driver’s License, car registration, utility bill, etc.).
In order to minimize exposures when voting on Election Day:
  • Please wear a mask or other facial covering.
  • All Election staff will be wearing masks and may have gloves and face shields, as well.
  • Plexiglass shields will be in place for protection between voters and Election staff.
  • Each Precinct polling area will be configured to maximize distancing between voters, with limited booths in each Precinct and only 2 voting compartments available in each booth;
    • This will limit the number of voters at all times; please be patient. 
  • Voting booths will be wiped-down periodically with sanitizing wipes or spray.
  • In order to prevent cross-contamination, a disposable pencil will be offered to each voter at the check-in table together with their ballot:
    • No ballot marking pens will be in the booths;
    • Alternatively a voter may bring their own black or blue pen to mark their ballot; 
    • The tabulators will read black, blue or hard lead pencil markings, but no other colors; 
  • After marking their ballot, the voter will go directly to the ballot box in their precinct to cast their ballot.
  • After depositing their ballot into the tabulator, the voter should immediately exit the polling area through the rear exit doors:
    • No lingering or socializing will be permitted within the polling area;
    • Voters with accessibility issues will still be escorted to the door closest to their parked vehicle. 
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 pencil and any PPE that the voter wishes to leave behind;
  • Please discard all items in this trash receptacle only and NOT on Church property.
These precautions are necessary to provide a safe voting environment, and for the protection of all voters and Election staff to the greatest extent possible.   
 
It is also important to recognize that all of the Election staff at Early Voting and on Election-Day have volunteered to assist for 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.
 
All mailed-in ballots must be returned at the Town Clerk’s Office by 8:00 pm on Election evening -- Tuesday, September 1st.    Mailed-in ballots cannot be accepted at the Polls.
 
Thank you for your understanding and anticipated compliance with these procedures, in order that we can all experience a safe voting experience.   If you choose to vote in person on Election Day, we will look forward to assisting you.