News Flash

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 by Mail, Vote Early in Person or Vote on Election Day

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, and 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.

View sample ballots at  https://www.winchester.us/632/State-Primary

Vote on Election Day- What you need to know before you go

All Elections are held at the same four Elementary School Gyms – Precinct 1 & 2 Muraco School 33 Bates Rd, Precinct 3 & 4 McCall Middle School 458 Main St, Precincts 5 & 6 Vinson Owen School 75 Johnson Rd and Precincts 7 & 8 Lynch School 10 Brantwood Rd.  Click on Where do I Vote:  to find you location

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx

Click here to view the Precinct Map: https://www.winchester.us/DocumentCenter/View/245/Precinct-Map-PDF---Town-Wide-Map

What you need to know / bring in advance of going to the polls to vote on Election Day to vote

• Wear a Face Covering
• Bring a Pen – Blue or Black ink sharpie or 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.

• Don’t touch your face while at the polling location
• Maintain Social Distancing – keep 6’ away from anyone not from your household
• Keep your ballot dry and free from hand sanitizers – to avoid tabulator issues

VOTE BY MAIL - All registered voters qualify to vote by mail in the Fall 2020 elections. Application post cards have been mailed to ALL registered voters, at their mailing address, who have not already applied to receive a vote by mail ballot as follows:

APPLY EARLY - to allow ample time for processing your application and for the postal services to deliver your ballot to you. If you are concerned about applying too early - please note that voters can hold on to their ballot and return it during the week prior to the election. 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.

Applications can be returned by Mail (postage is pre-paid on the post card application mailed to you), or scanned & emailed to townclerk@winchester.us

TRACK YOUR APPLICATION AND BALLOT

Voters who have applied for a vote by mail ballot may use this link to track the status of their application as well as their ballot status (mailed / received back). Please note that we anticipate a large volume of applications (there are over 15,000 voters in Winchester) and request you 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 townclerk@winchester.us

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) Please Do NOT leave your voted ballot outside of Town Hall in the drop boxes for general office work of other departments, i.e. Building Permits or Tax Collector (Deadline to return is close of polls on Election Day). There will be RED DROP BOXES at the front door of Town Hall for ballot drop off.

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 Town Clerk’s staff to the polls to be cast on Election Day. Voters who receive a vote by mail ballot but do not return it prior to Election Day may appear to vote in person and cast a ballot on Election Day. Any voter that has returned a vote by mail ballot (or voted early in person) is not permitted to appear to vote in person on Election Day.

Deadlines for ballots to be returned and counted

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

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  • November Election –Ballots dropped off in the RED DROP BOXES at the Front Entrance of Town Hall must be returned by not later than 8pm on November 3^rd.
  • Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by November 3rd AND received by the Town Clerk by 5PM on November 6th.

Please note that US Postal delivery services are not consistent and can range from 3 to 11 days. We recommend voters return their ballots in the RED DROP BOXES outside of the front entrance to Town Hall not later than 8PM on Election Day to ensure it arrives back to us in time to count.

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

State Primary Election Early Voting in Person Period:              August 22nd - 28th Location: Town Hall – 71 Mt. Vernon St Winchester Room 1^st Floor

Presidential Election Early Voting in Person

Period:            October 17th - 30^th

Location:         Town Hall – 71 Mt. Vernon St Winchester Room 1^st Floor

*Please note that no more than 5 voters will be allowed in Town Hall to vote early at all times.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO VOTE

Educated voters will reduce the amount of time necessary in the voting booths and reduce lines and crowding while voting.

Unenrolled / Independent voters will need to choose which primary ballot type they want to vote on). Voters who are registered in a particular party (Democrat, Republican, Green-Rainbow, and Libertarian) MUST take that party ballot type - verify your party enrollment or change your party enrollment

View sample ballots at   https://www.winchester.us/632/State-Primary

What to Bring or Know when voting early in person:

• Wear a Face Covering
• Bring a Pen – Blue or Black ink sharpie or 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.
• Don’t touch your face while at the polling location
• 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.

When & how is an early voter’s ballot cast?

All vote by mail and early voting in person ballots will be opened and inserted into a tabulator before Election Day or fed through the tabulators at the polls on Election Day. These ballots will be kept secured, locked, and unexamined until the polls are closed on Election Day.

More information on how Winchester intends to process these ballots will be available after the Secretary of State provides regulations on processing ballots before Election Day.