To make sure Harvard voters have their minds free to mull the important questions on the ballot, the Press has compiled dates to remember and answered frequently asked questions about the upcoming Nov. 3 election, including how to request a ballot, when to expect it to arrive, and the difference between mail-in, early, and absentee voting.
Ballots may be placed in the dropbox at Town Hall, just to the left of the front doors. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
How do I register to vote?
Eligible Massachusetts residents can register either online or in person.
Online registration is available for those with a current driver’s license or state ID card. If lacking those IDs, a resident can download an application online at www.sec.state.ma.us and mail it or hand-deliver it to Town Hall: Use the dropbox (mail slot) to the left of the front doors on the outside wall of Town Hall. Signage helps voters identify it.
In-person registration is also an option at Town Hall, the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office, and the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
What is the deadline for registering to vote in the presidential election?
The last day to register online is Saturday, Oct. 24, by midnight. Anyone who wants to register in person at Town Hall must do so by Saturday, Oct. 24. The town clerk will be available that day for voter registration from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m.
How can I determine whether I am already registered to vote?
Go to the Secretary of State Elections Division webpage and select “Am I Registered to Vote.”
Will every Massachusetts voter be mailed a ballot application, even if they haven’t requested one?
Yes. For the first time, the state has mailed ballot applications—not ballots—to all registered voters in Massachusetts who had not already requested a ballot, and also to voters who were registered in Harvard as of Sept. 1, 2020. The applications were mailed out by the state around Sept. 14, so voters should watch for them.
Once filled out, a voter can mail the application to Town Hall, deliver it to the Town Hall dropbox (mail slot), or scan and email it to townclerk@harvard.ma.us.
Note: Only states that have enacted universal mail-in voting send ballots directly to each registered voter. Massachusetts does not use universal mail-in voting.
What if I already applied for a presidential election ballot in September?
Voters who filled out a mail-in or absentee ballot application for the state primaries in September and requested ballots for both the primaries and the presidential election will not receive another application. They can expect their ballots to arrive in early- to mid-October.
What if I cannot remember whether I already requested a ballot for the Nov. 3 election?
Go to the Secretary of State Elections Division webpage and select “Track My Ballot.” This will bring up a form asking for name and address. Once submitted, the site will show the voter’s ballot tracking details. If, under “status,” the ballot shows up as “pending,” that means it has already been requested and the voter need take no further action. Another option is to ask the town clerk’s office, at 978-456-4100 or townclerk@harvard.ma.us.
Delays in mail delivery have been in the news, and I see conflicting information about mailing in my ballot application and completed ballot. What is the best advice on this?
Advice from the League of Women Voters on requesting and submitting ballots is, “The sooner, the better.”
The state’s official deadline to request a mail-in ballot is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28. However, state election officials and the United States Postal Service recommend applying for ballots as soon as possible, and no later than Oct. 20. The USPS recommends mailing back ballots at least seven days before the election, while the town clerk’s online voting guide recommends mailing back ballots ‘early’ or delivering them to the Town Hall dropbox before 8 p.m., Nov. 3.
What happens to my ballot after I mail it, or bring it back, to Town Hall?
When a ballot is received in the town clerk’s office, it is scanned into the state’s Voter Registration Information System using the individual voter bar code on the ballot envelope. The sealed ballot is then securely stored until it is counted on Election Day.
As for signature verification, Town Clerk Marlene Kenney explained that state election law does not require it. Instead, when a voter signs a ballot envelope, they are in effect signing an affidavit that affirms that they are a registered voter in Harvard; will not vote anywhere else; and have provided truthful information.
What are the rules about getting my ballot counted if I send it by the U.S. Postal Service?
Ballots must be postmarked no later than Nov. 3, and be received at Town Hall by Nov. 6, 5 p.m. Any USPS-mailed ballot that does not meet these requirements will not be counted.
What about hand-delivered, mail-in/absentee ballots?
The Town Hall dropbox will be open for ballot collection until 8 p.m., Nov. 3. Voters must deliver ballots to Town Hall, not to the polling station at the Bromfield School.
Is mail-in voting the same as early voting?
No. Voters may end up “voting early” by applying for, receiving, and casting a ballot before election day, but early voting is a separate option.
What is early voting? Where, and when?
Early voting is an in-person option for those who are worried about the risk of COVID-19 infection at a possibly crowded polling place, or are unable to attend in-person voting on Election Day, but still prefer to fill out a ballot the old-fashioned way. Early voting in Harvard will be available at the town clerk’s office from Oct. 17 to 29; the state deadline of Oct. 30 does not apply because Town Hall is closed on Friday.
For hours, see “In-person early voting hours” below.
Early voters must wear face coverings, bring their own black or blue pens, and observe social distancing. Only one person at a time will be allowed inside the town clerk’s office for early voting. You may be asked to show an ID if you are voting for the first time in Massachusetts
I sent in an application for a mail-in ballot, but decided I’d rather vote in person on Nov. 3.
If you requested a ballot but haven’t received it, or have changed your mind about mailing in or dropping off the ballot, you can still show up at the polls to vote in person on Nov. 3. Election officials at the poll will verify that voters who show up have not already voted by mail.
In-person voters should—in addition to wearing face coverings and maintaining safe distances—-keep their ballots dry and free from hand sanitizers; moisture causes ballots to jam in the voting machines.
What is the difference between absentee ballots and mail-in ballots?
This year, there is very little distinction between mail-in ballots and absentee ballots. Because the state Legislature has expanded the allowed use of absentee ballots in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the terms “absentee ballot” and “mail-in ballot” are often used as synonyms. According to Kenney, almost all ballot applications are being treated as vote-by-mail applications, but there is still one important distinction pertaining to overseas voters.
Overseas voters are the only voters who still need to use absentee ballots. They are required by federal law. These voters have until noon Nov. 2 to request their ballots because, unlike mail-in ballots, they can be emailed to voters. Voters abroad must email ballots back to the town clerk by 8 p.m., Nov. 3. If an out-of-country voter has requested an absentee ballot be mailed to them, the ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 13.
Sources: Harvard Town Clerk Marlene Kenney; Secretary of State website, Elections and Voting Division.
November 2020 Election in a nutshell:
Dates, deadlines, elected offices, and ballot questions
Online voter registration:
Until midnight, Saturday, Oct. 24. Online registrants must possess a state ID or driver’s license.
In-person registration at Town Hall:
Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Oct. 22. Last day of in-person registration is Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 8 p.m. (Special hours.)
In-person early voting:
From Oct. 17 until 29. See “In-person early voting hours” at right.
Election Day voting:
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. at Bromfield School, 14 Mass. Ave.
Elected national and state offices:
President and vice-president, U.S. senator, U.S. representative, register of probate, state senator (uncontested), state representative, councillor (uncontested).
Ballot questions for proposed Massachusetts laws:
Question 1 asks whether motor vehicle owners and independent repair facilities should be given expanded access to mechanical data related to vehicle maintenance and repair. Question 2 asks whether ranked choice voting should be allowed.
For more information: Call or email the town clerk’s office, 978-456-4100, ext. 316 and 319, mkenney@harvard.ma.us.
