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Voting Options and Voter Registration for State/Presidential Election on Nov. 3, 2020

caution sign The information on this page may be outdated as it was published 3 years ago.

In order to provide increased voting options in response to COVID-19, 950 House Bill 4820 was passed and signed into law as Chapter 115 of the Acts of 2020 “for the immediate preservation of public health and convenience.”

Accordingly, early voting is available to all voters for the State/Presidential Election on November 3, 2020. Early voting is available by mail and in person to all registered voters and no excuse is required.

Voters are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering in the Early Voting locations and on Election Day at polling sites (except for reasons listed in CDC or Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines) to help mitigate public health risks associated with COVID-19.

However you choose to vote, please be advised that once a voter casts an early voting ballot, the voter may no longer vote at the polls.

EARLY VOTING 

TO VOTE BY MAIL:

1. Complete a Vote by Mail Application; you can apply online or download an application at www.MailMyBallotMA.com or send a written request with your name, Cambridge address, address where you want the ballot sent, and your signature.

Applications can be sent by:

2. Vote when your ballot arrives.

3. Return your voted and sealed ballot to the Cambridge Election Commission by mail, ballot drop box, or in person.

4. Check the status of your ballot at www.TrackMyBallotMA.com

The deadline to return a Vote by Mail ballot is November 3 at 8 p.m. or postmarked by November 3 and delivered to the Cambridge Election Commission by November 6 in order to be counted.
The deadline to submit a Vote by Mail Application for a mailed ballot for the election is Wednesday, October 28 at 5 p.m. The U.S. Postal Service recommends submitting this application no later than October 20 to ensure the timely delivery of your ballot.

The Election Commission is open to the public by appointment only. Please schedule an appointment at https://calendly.com/cambridge-election-commission.

 


Official Ballot Drop Box Locations

Official ballot drop boxes will be available at the following six (6) locations for Cambridge voters beginning Friday, October 9 through Tuesday, November 3 at 8 p.m.:

  1. City Hall - Near the back door of the building located at 795 Massachusetts Avenue

  2. Morse School - Near the front entrance of the building located at 40 Granite Street

  3. Cambridge Police Headquarters - Right-side of the front of the building located at 125 6th Street

  4. Maria L. Baldwin School - Right-side of the Oxford Street entrance of the building located at 28 Sacramento Street

  5. O’Neill Library - Adjacent to the entrance stairs of the building located at 70 Rindge Avenue

  6. Coffon Building - Right-side of the front of the building located at 51 Inman Street (available beginning Wednesday, October 7)


TO VOTE IN PERSON:

Visit any of the three early voting locations offered in Cambridge during the period from Saturday, October 17 to Friday, October 30 for the State/Presidential Election. You must be a registered voter in Cambridge to vote at the early voting locations.  Please refer to the City’s designated early voting schedule below. The deadline to vote early in person is Friday, October 30 at 5 p.m.

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS AND SCHEDULE

  1. Longfellow Community School – 359 Broadway, rear entrance

  2. Cambridge Water Department - 250 Fresh Pond Parkway

  3. Valente Library – 826 Cambridge Street, side entrance on Berkshire Street

  1. Saturday
    October 17
    9:00am - 3:00pm
  2. Sunday
    October 18
    9:00am - 3:00pm
  3. Monday
    October 19
    9:30am - 5:00pm
  4. Tuesday
    October 20
    9:30am - 5:00pm
  5. Wednesday
    October 21
    9:30am - 5:00pm
  6. Thursday
    October 22
    9:30am - 5:00pm
  7. Friday
    October 23
    9:30am - 5:00pm
  8. Saturday
    October 24*
    1:00pm - 7:00pm
  9. Sunday
    October 25
    9:00am - 3:00pm
  10. Monday
    October 26
    9:30am - 5:00pm
  11. Tuesday
    October 27
    9:30am - 5:00pm
  12. Wednesday
    October 28
    9:30am - 5:00pm
  13. Thursday
    October 29
    9:30am - 5:00pm
  14. Friday
    October 30
    9:30am - 5:00pm

The Election Commission office located at 51 Inman Street will NOT be an early voting location for the State/Presidential Election on November 3, 2020. Voters must go to one of the designated early voting locations listed above.

*The voter registration deadline is Saturday, October 24 at 8 p.m. The Election Commission will be open on that day from 1-8 p.m. Please schedule an appointment at https://calendly.com/cambridge-election-commissionIf you are unable to schedule an appointment, Election Commission staff will be available to accept completed voter registration forms near the side entrance of the Coffon Building on Inman Place, Cambridge.

Voting on Election Day & Relocation of Some Polling Sites

Voting on Election Day will still be available for those who want to vote at the polls, but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some polling sites (like those in high-risk facilities) were temporarily relocated for the upcoming State/Presidential Election on November 3rd. Your temporary location will be in the same ward and precinct or near your regular polling site for voter convenience and to minimize voter confusion. In the next few weeks, voters will receive an Early Voting Guide and a Voter Notification Card in the mail that will have information pertaining to any relocated polling places and other important election related information.

Voter Registration

For anyone wanting to vote early in person, by mail, or by drop box, the first step is making sure you are registered. To check your voter registration status and to find information on how to register to vote, please go to www.registertovotema.com. You will need a license, or an I.D. issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles to apply online.

To be eligible to vote in the State/Presidential Election on November 3, you must register to vote or make changes to your voter registration by Saturday, October 24 at 8 p.m.


Page was posted on 10/6/2020 3:10 PM
Page was last modified on 7/25/2023 4:18 AM
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