Town of Milton issues Fall 2020 elections Voter Options Guide

On July 6th the Governor signed new legislation – An Act relative to voting options in response to COVID.  This legislation outlines 3 options for voting in the fall 2020 elections – Vote on Election Day, Vote By Mail or Vote Early in Person

SELECTION OF BALLOT TYPES – PRIMARY ELECTION ONLY
In a primary election, a voter who is NOT registered in a political party (Unenrolled or commonly known as Independent) must specify the party ballot type of choice on the application to vote by mail or in person voting (early or on election day).  We are unable to process applications for Unenrolled / Independent voters who do not select a party ballot type on their application.  Unenrolled / Independent voters who select a party ballot type do not become registered in that party – they remain Unenrolled / Independent voters.  Voters who are registered in one of the 4 political parties (Democrat, Republican, Green-Rainbow, Libertarian) MUST take that party ballot and are not given a choice of ballot type – verify your party enrollment or change your party enrollment prior to the deadline to register to vote and before applying for a mail in ballot.

Sample Ballots for STATE PRIMARY:

Vote on Election Day In Person

All polling locations will be open from 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM

What to Bring or Know when voting in person:

• Wear a Face Covering
• Bring a Pen – Blue or Black ink Paper Mate Flair (if you don’t want to borrow one)
• Bring a Clip Board or Book to mark your ballot on (if you don’t want to use a Voting Booth)
• Bring an ID – in some cases voters will be required to show an ID.
• Maintain Social Distancing – keep 6’ away from anyone not from your household

What’s my Precinct/Where do I vote? Click Here

Vote by Mail

All registered voters are qualify to vote by mail in the fall 2020 elections.  Application post cards were mailed by the Secretary of State’s Office to ALL registered voters, at their mailing address, who have not already applied to receive a vote by mail ballot as follows:

2020 VOTE BY MAIL APPLICATION

APPLY EARLY - to allow ample time for processing your application and for the postal services to deliver your ballot to you.  Voters who receive a vote by mail ballot but do not return it prior to election day may appear to vote in person on election day to cast a ballot.  Any voter that has returned a vote by mail ballot (or voted early in person) cannot vote on Election Day.

Vote by Mail postcards can be returned by Mail (postage is pre-paid on the post card mailed to you). Paper Vote by Mail applications can be scanned & emailed to [email protected].

Track Your Application and Ballot

Please note that we anticipate a large volume of applications.  Please allow at least 2 weeks before checking the status of your application and allow a minimum of 10 days to receive your ballot from the status date of mailing.  Please DO NOT contact the Clerk’s Office to check on your status until the recommended amount of time listed above has passed. Inquiries should be sent to [email protected].

Return of Vote by Mail Ballots

Mailed Ballots include a postage pre-paid return ballot envelope that is addressed to the Town Clerk’s Office.  You may return your ballot by mail (please see deadlines below) or hand deliver your ballot by placing it in the drop box outside of the Town Hall (deadline is close of polls on Election Day). Ballots can NOT be returned to the polling location on Election Day – they must be returned to the Town Clerk’s Office for processing before they are delivered by the Town Clerk’s staff to the polls to be cast on Election Day.  Once the voted early voting ballot is received, the voter’s process of voting is complete and may not be changed.

Deadlines for ballots to be returned and counted 

Primary Election - All ballots must be received by the Town Clerk at Town Hall by 8 PM on September 1st

November Election –

Ballots returned in the drop box must be received by 8 PM on November 3rd.
Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by November 3rd AND received by the Town Clerk by 5 PM on November 6th.

Vote Early In Person

Early Voting in person will be available for the fall 2020 elections.
An application is not required to vote early in person.

State Primary Election Early Voting in Person
Period:           August 22nd – 28th
Location:        Town Offices– 525 Canton Avenue – Blute Conference Room*

Presidential Election Early Voting in Person
Period:           October 17th – 30th
Location:        Town Offices– 525 Canton Avenue – Blute Conference Room *

* * Please note that no more than 4 voters will be allowed in Town Hall to vote early at all times.

What to Bring or Know when voting early in person:

• Wear a Face Covering
• Bring a Pen – Blue or Black ink Paper Mate Flair (if you don’t want to borrow one)
• Bring a Clip Board or Book to mark your ballot on (if you don’t want to use a Voting Booth)
• Bring an ID – in some cases voters will be required to show an ID.
• Maintain Social Distancing – keep 6’ away from anyone not from your household

EARLY VOTING (by mail or in person) FAQ:

If I applied for a vote by mail ballot can I appear to vote in person at an early voting site or at the polls on Election Day?
If your vote by mail ballot has not been received back to the Town Clerk’s Office – YES, you may still appear to vote in person at the polls on Election Day.  These voters will be required to complete additional paperwork and will need to show an ID.  Should your mail in ballot be received after you voted early in person or at the polls on Election Day that ballot will be rejected and will not be counted.

If a vote by mail ballot has already been received back by the Town Clerk’s Office – NO. 

A returned vote by mail ballot is considered cast and you will not be eligible to vote by mail, early in person or in person at the polls on Election Day.

If I vote early in person can I appear to vote in person at the polls on Election Day?

NO – If you appeared to vote early in person your ballot will be considered cast and you will not be eligible to vote by mail, or in person at the polls on Election Day.  Voting in Person at the Polls after submitting an early ballot is prohibited as outlined in 950 CMR 4 7.19.

Electioneering During Early Voting in Person

The following regulation for the period designated for in-person absentee voting and the State’s Early Voting Period:

No poster, card, handbill, placard, picture or circular intended to influence the action of a voter shall be posted, exhibited, circulated or distributed in the premises of the Town Office Building, on the walls, doors or accessory building thereof, on the premises on which the Town Office Building stands, or within seventy-two (72) feet of the Town Office Building front door entrance or ninety (90) feet of the Town Building handicap door entrance, or on the gazebo located on the Town Green area in front of the Town Office Building.   Any poster, card, handbill, placard, picture or circular intended to influence the action of any voter shall be, exhibited, circulated or distributed only on the Town Green area in front of the Town Office Building. Distribution of any paster, commonly called a sticker, to be placed upon the official ballot will be limited to the Town Green area only.  No person shall solicit votes for or against, or otherwise promote or oppose, any person or political party or position on a ballot question, to be voted on at the general election, other than within the Town Green area in front of the Town Office Building.

No person shall be allowed to collect signatures upon petitions, referendum petitions or nomination papers within the Town Office building during the Early Voting period.

For the most updated information, visit the Town of Milton website:

https://www.townofmilton.org/town-clerk/pages/elections-2020-fall-election-information