City of Boston reminds voters of registration deadline
The City of Boston's Board of Election Commissioners is reminding voters that the last day to register to vote, change one's voting address or party affiliation for the September 8, 2015 Preliminary Municipal Election is this Wednesday, August 19. There will be Preliminary Elections held in City Council District 4 and City Council District 7 only.
Those who wish to register or make changes by mail should make sure that their form is postmarked no later than August 19. Massachusetts law does not currently allow these changes to be made via email. To download the form, please visit:http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howreg.htm. There is also a new option to register, by going to the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website and using the new Online Voter Registration system, also located at www.registertovotema.com.
The City of Boston's Election Department, located in Room 241 at City Hall, will also be open until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, to accommodate registrants and those wishing to make changes. Voters entering City Hall after 5:00 p.m. should enter from the Congress Street side of the building opposite Faneuil Hall. There will be signage to direct voters to the Election Department.
All mail sent to the Boston Election Department should be directed to Room 241, Boston City Hall, Boston, MA 02201. Using the wrong zip code can delay the arrival of one's registration information or absentee ballot request.
Absentee voters are required to fill out a new application each calendar year. Applications may be obtained by calling the Election Department at 617-635-3767, or through the Department's website: www.cityofboston.gov/elections. If a voter is unsure as to whether or not an absentee ballot request is up-to-date, he or she should contact the Department. All voters are urged to file their applications as soon as possible in order to expedite the mailing of the actual absentee ballots.
Absentee ballots are also available for those who wish to vote in person at the Election Department. Early voting in Massachusetts will not take place until November 2016. Any person voting absentee can only do so if health reasons prevent the voter from getting to the polls, the voter is out of the City of Boston all day on September 8 or religious reasons prevent the voter from participating on Election Day. Voters with questions about absentee ballots should call 617-635-2211.
