Vote-by-mail Option Now Law

H.4820, “An Act Relative to Voting Options in Response to COVID-19” is now law. The law ensures that citizens of the Commonwealth can exercise their right to vote without endangering their health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing voters with an option to either securely vote by mail or to vote in-person on election day.

The bill’s key provisions took effect immediately upon becoming a law on July 6, and the Secretary of the Commonwealth has now sent vote-by-mail applications to the home of every registered voter in Massachusetts. The application is also available online here: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleev/early-voting-by-mail.htm

To vote in the September 1 state primary election by mail, your town clerk must receive your application by August 26. To vote in the October 28 general election, your town clerk must receive your application by October 28. You may opt-in to vote by mail in both applications on the same form.

The law also calls for an expansion of early voting, which is now available 11 days before the primary election in September (Aug. 22) and 11 business days before the general election in November (Oct. 23).  In addition, we empowered our municipal clerks to take additional measures at their discretion to increase the safety of poll workers on election day.

Voting is the most sacred of our rights as American citizens.  Exercise that right this year!