How to vote in the Nov. 3 election

Oct 1, 2020

Election Day is Nov. 3.

Aside from the presidential election race between former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump, Massachusetts voters will be deciding between incumbent US Senator Ed Markey or Republican challenger Kevin O’Connor for Markey’s senate seat. 

Voters will also choose between incumbent US Representative Bill Keating and Republican challenger Helen Brady for Keating’s house seat in the state’s ninth congressional district.

In the Massachusetts state legislature for Wareham’s district, both the senate and house races are uncontested. Democratic incumbent Marc Pacheco will be running to keep his seat in the senate, while Republican incumbent Susan Gifford will be running unopposed for her house seat. 

Two questions on proposed legislation will also appear on the 2020 ballot in Massachusetts. 

Question 1 would require automakers to release telematic data for any vehicle sold in the state starting from model year 2022, while Question 2 would establish a ranked choice voting system for future federal and state elections.

You can vote in the election in three ways.

By mail/dropbox: In late summer, the state mailed applications for mail-in ballots to all registered voters. If you returned that application, you should get a ballot in the mail in the next few weeks.

To request a mail-in or absentee ballot, contact the Town Clerk’s office at (508) 291-3140. All requests must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 28.

In completing the ballot, make sure to carefully follow directions, returning the ballot in two provided envelopes and signing as directed. Voters are asked to fill in ballots with a pen or Flair pen. Sharpie pens bleed through the ballot, requiring it to be hand-counted as that confuses the scanner. 

Drop in the mail or in the red, white, and blue drop box at the entrance to Town Hall at 54 Marion Road. 

Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, November 3, and received by the Town Clerk by 5 p.m. on November 6 to be counted.

Early in person: Early voting will take place from Saturday, Oct. 17 through Thursday, Oct. 29 in the auditorium at Town Hall, 54 Marion Road. Voting will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays; from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; and from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. 

There will be no early voting in person on Fridays. 

Face masks are required and cannot promote a candidate. Volunteer poll workers will be wearing PPE and sanitizing surfaces and booths after every visitor.

During early voting, only eight voters will be allowed in the auditorium at a time. All voters must wear a face covering. Those who don’t want to use provided pens and a voting booth may bring a blue or black ink pen or Paper Mate Flair pen and a clipboard or book on which to fill out the ballot. Six feet of social distancing must be maintained between oneself and those not from one’s household. 

In person on Nov. 3: On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at your local polling place, which is the same as for the Sept. 1 primary.

Precincts 1 and 6 are at Memorial Town Hall, 54 Marion Road; Precincts 2 and 3 are at the Ethel E. Hammond School, 13 Highland Avenue in Onset; Precincts 4 and 5 are at the Redman Hall, 745 Main Street in West Wareham.

Masks are required. Those unsure of their precinct can find out at sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx.

To register to vote: Massachusetts offers online voter registration at sec.state.ma.us/OVR. Or visit the Town Clerk’s office at 54 Marion Road. The deadline to register or to change party enrollment is Oct. 24. There will be voter registration sessions in the Town Hall parking lot from 2 to 4 and 7 to 8 p.m. on October 24. 

To find out if your ballot has been received: Go to www.trackmyballotMA.com. If your ballot has not been received, you are eligible to vote in person. If you do vote in person, any previously mailed vote will not be counted.

For more information, call the Town Clerk’s Office at (508) 291-3140 between 8:15 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, or between 8:15 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.