Fall 2020 Elections - Voter Options Guide

FALL 2020 ELECTIONS – VOTER OPTIONS GUIDE

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, 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 for the State Primary (September 1, 2020)

View sample ballots for the General State Election (November 3, 2020)

To be posted once the results of the primaries are final and ballots are available.

Vote by Mail
All registered voters qualify to vote by mail in the fall 2020 elections.  Application post cards will be 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),  placed in the drop box outside of the town offices (499 Plymouth Street) or scanned & emailed to [email protected]
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TRACK YOUR APPLICATION AND BALLOT

Voters who have applied for a vote by mail ballot may 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 5,800 voters in Halifax) 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 [email protected]

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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) or hand deliver your ballot by placing it in the drop box outside of the Town Offices (deadline is close of polls on Election Day). 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
• November Election -
  • Ballots returned in the drop box must be received by 8PM on November 3rd.   
  • 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 drop box outside of the town offices by 8PM on Election Day to ensure it arrives back to us in time to count.

Vote Early in Person
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 – 499 Plymouth Street – Selectmen’s Meeting Room

State General Election Early Voting in Person
Period:           October 17th - 30th
Location:        Town Hall – 499 Plymouth Street – Selectmen’s Meeting Room

*Please note that no more than 6 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, Libertarian) MUST take that party ballot type -  verify your party enrollment or change your party enrollment

View sample ballots for the State Primary (September 1, 2020)

View sample ballots for the General State Election (November 3, 2020)

To be posted once the results of the primaries are final and ballots are available.

What to Bring or Know when voting early in person:

EARLY VOTING (by mail or in person) FAQ:

Electioneering During Early Voting in Person

No poster, card, handbill, placard, picture or circular intended to influence the action of the voter, other than those expressly authorized by G.L. c. 54, § 65, shall be posted, exhibited, circulated or distributed in the Town Clerk’s office, in the building where the Town Clerk’s office is located, on the walls thereof, on the premises on which the Town offices at 499 Plymouth Street stand within one hundred and fifty feet (150’) of the building entrance door to said Town offices