Six months into a global pandemic and with a presidential election less than three months away, now would be a good time to test your plan for how you will cast your ballot in November. And Tuesday’s Massachusetts state primary is an opportunity to do so.
It’s too late to apply for a mail-in ballot, but if you’ve already applied for and received one, you’ll need to decide whether to mail it or drop it off at Town Hall. Our reporting in this issue does not instill confidence that a ballot mailed late this week will reach its destination by Sept. 1 as the law requires. So it would be better to deliver your ballot in person if possible. If Town Hall is closed or you prefer not to enter the building, ballots can be deposited in the drop-box to the left of the front door.
For those reassured by the 10-week absence of new COVID-19 cases in Harvard, the polls will be open Sept 1 at the Bromfield cafeteria from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. If you plan to vote in person, be sure to check out the voter options guide at the town clerk’s website (https://bit.ly/2Qt11RK). The guide explains the social distancing and other measures in place to keep everyone safe.
This is a good time to remind ourselves that we live in a democracy. Voting is a privilege that we should never take for granted. As citizens, we have an obligation to exercise that right, perhaps this year more than ever.
