Massachusetts deadlines, rules for 2024 presidential election

Massachusetts election deadlines, rules: What voters need to know before Nov. 5

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. IT’S SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6TH. MASSACHUSETTS SECRETARY OF STATE BILL GALVIN IS IN THE CHAIR THIS MORNING. HE’S OUR GUEST. LET’S LET’S GO ON THE RECORD. ELECTION DAY IS NOW JUST A MONTH AWAY. AND MAKING SURE THAT VOTING IS SAFE, SECURE AND ACCURATE IS THE SECRETARY’S MISSION WITH PARTIZAN POLITICS AT A BOILING POINT? IS THAT STILL POSSIBLE? LET’S GO ON THE RECORD FROM WCVB CHANNEL 5 THE INSIDE WORD FROM WASHINGTON TO BEACON HILL. TODAY’S NEWSMAKERS ARE GOING ON THE RECORD. WELCOME TO OTR EVERYONE. I’M ED HARDING AND I’M SHARMAN SACCHETTI WITH US AT THE TABLE THIS MORNING IS SECRETARY OF STATE BILL GALVIN. NOW. HE SERVED IN THAT ROLE SINCE 1995. AND THIS IS A VERY, VERY BUSY MOMENT FOR YOU. I KNOW MAIL IN BALLOTS ARE ON THE WAY OUT NOW. THIS IS A BIG TIME FOR YOU. SO THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. GREAT TO SEE YOU, MR. GALVIN. IT’S ALWAYS IT’S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU IN THE CHAIR. I JUST SAID WITH PARTIZAN POLITICS AT A BOILING POINT, IS IT STILL POSSIBLE TO TO HAVE A SAFE, SECURE AND ACCURATE ELECTION? IS IT? IT IS. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THERE’S A LOT OF NOISE, A LOT OF RHETORIC, A LOT OF CHALLENGES. EVERYONE KNOWS THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE 2020 ELECTION. I THINK WE ANTICIPATED THIS ELECTION WITH SOME DEGREE OF TREPIDATION. BUT THE REALITY IS, I THINK THE LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE WORKING VERY HARD, NOT JUST HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS. I MIGHT ADD. JUST THE OTHER DAY, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECRETARIES OF STATE, OF WHICH I’M A MEMBER, HAD A PHONE CONVERSATION WITH POSTMASTER GENERAL, AND IT WAS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, SECRETARIES PARTICIPATING TOGETHER DISCUSSING THE MAILS AND HOW WE MIGHT PROCEED ON THAT AND THE CONCERNS WE HAVE ABOUT THE MAILS. SO THE REALITY IS, IS THAT I THINK ELECTION OFFICIALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY KNOW THE CHALLENGE THEY HAVE AHEAD OF US. AND I THINK WE’RE GOING TO MEET IT. SO, SO OBVIOUSLY WHEN HE USES THE WORD MAIL, IT’S M A I L YOU’VE OVERSEEN ELECTIONS HERE FOR DECADES NOW. THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT VOTING BY MAIL RIGHT TO THE FOREFRONT. BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE ARE RAISING CONCERNS NATIONWIDE, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE BLUE BOXES. RIGHT. AND YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS. IT’S CLEAR, RIGHT. THE CONCERNS WE HAVE IS OBVIOUSLY WE RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEMS THAT MAIL DELIVERY HAS GENERALLY HAD. IF YOU TALK TO ANYBODY IN MASSACHUSETTS, IN ANY PART OF MASSACHUSETTS, YOU’RE LIKELY TO FIND PEOPLE WHO’VE HAD ISSUES WITH THE MAIL DELAYS, DELAYS OR LACK OF DELIVERY ARE EVEN FURTHER. FRANKLY, FISHING. WELL, THAT’S THAT WAS PULLED OUT OF THE OUT OF THE MAILBOX. CRIMINAL MATTERS I’M TALKING ABOUT SIMPLY ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS IN TERMS OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE MAIL AND THE RECEIVING. THE MAIL. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY, AND WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE POSTAL SERVICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOES NOT AFFECT THE ELECTION. MAIL AND WE’RE CONFIDENT OF THEIR GOOD EFFORTS TO DO THAT AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN’T DENY THE FACTS AND THE FACTS ARE THERE ARE SHORTAGES OF PERSONNEL. THERE ARE WORKING ISSUES AMONGST THEM BETWEEN THE UNION AND THE MANAGEMENT. WE’RE TRYING TO OVERCOME THAT, OR AT LEAST CIRCUMVENT THAT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE’S BALLOTS GET DELIVERED AND THEY GET RETURNED. SO WHAT’S YOUR BEST SUGGESTION FOR PEOPLE ONCE THEY RECEIVE? AND IF THEY WANT TO VOTE BY MAIL, ONCE THEY RECEIVE THEIR BALLOT, RECEIVE THEIR BALLOT, WHICH THEY SHOULD BE RECEIVING NOW OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, IF THEY HAVEN’T ALREADY, AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, THEY SHOULD VOTE RIGHT AWAY. IT’S POSTAGE PREPAID, AND IF THEY’RE GOING TO USE THE MAIL, JUST PUT IT IN THE MAIL RIGHT AWAY. IF THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE CERTAINLY GOING TO DO AND THE BALLOT QUESTIONS, FOR INSTANCE, COULD BE A REASON WHY THEY MIGHT NOT. AND YOU BROUGHT YOUR BOOKLET. I BROUGHT MY BOOKLET. YEP YEP YEP. READ UP BEFORE YOU VOTE, DO YOUR RESEARCH. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF YOU’RE NOT, THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO WAIT. IF IT GETS DOWN TO THE END, IF YOU’RE DOWN WITHIN THE SEVEN DAYS, RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION, EVEN THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS SAID DO NOT PUT IT IN THE MAIL. I REITERATE THAT TAKE IT EITHER TO THE CITY OF TOWN ELECTION OFFICE DIRECTLY, OR PUT IT IN ONE OF THE DROP BOXES IN THE COMMUNITIES HAVE, WHICH ARE REGULARLY COLLECTED AND SECURE. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE RECOMMENDING. LET ME LET ME JUST ADD ANECDOTALLY, PERSONALLY, OUR SON LIVES IN NEW JERSEY, ABOUT 190 MILES AWAY, AND IT COULD TAKE A MONTH FOR A LETTER TO ARRIVE TO OUR HOUSE, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS CALLED OUT MAIL IN VOTING AS RIPE FOR FRAUD. IS IS THE FORMER PRESIDENT RIGHT? NO, HE’S NOT HE’S HE’S MADE WILD ALLEGATIONS ABOUT THIS BEFORE. AND HE’S NOT. OBVIOUSLY WE’RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT FOR INSTANCE, HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE’RE VERY CAREFUL. THE BALLOTS ARE RETURNED TO LOCAL OFFICES. THE SIGNATURES ARE COMPARED THERE. THERE IS A BARCODE ON THE ENVELOPE. WE’RE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT IT. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE THE PROCESS IS OPEN WHEN OFFICIALS FROM THE REPUBLICAN OR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TRY TO DISCOVER WHO’S VOTED BY MAIL BY NAME, THEY CAN FIND OUT WHO HAS REQUESTED IT AFTER THE FACT. THE BALLOTS WILL BE REVIEWABLE, THE PAPERWORK WILL BE REVIEWABLE. OBVIOUSLY, YOU WON’T KNOW HOW THE PEOPLE VOTED BECAUSE THE BALLOTS WILL HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE ENVELOPE AS THEY SHOULD BE AT THAT POINT. BUT HE’S WRONG. HE’S SIMPLY WRONG. YOU SAY THE BARCODE, THERE WAS AN INSTANCE WHERE THE BALLOTS IN IN ONE CASE WERE NOT RETURNED TO A LOCAL OFFICE, BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO TRACK THOSE BALLOTS. THAT’S A MAILING ISSUE THAT HAD HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BALLOTS OR THE INDIVIDUALS. IT WAS MISDELIVERED TO THE WRONG LOCAL ELECTION OFFICE. THE ELECTION OFFICE THAT RECEIVED IT RECOGNIZED IT, IMMEDIATELY, CONTACTED THE RIGHT ELECTION OFFICE. AND AS A RESULT, THE OPPORTUNITY WAS MADE TO MAKE SURE THEY GOT COUNTED. SO WE’VE JUST SPENT A NUMBER OF MINUTES TALKING ABOUT SITUATIONS WITH THE MAIL. IT’S 2024. I’LL GO BACK TO A QUESTION I’VE ASKED YOU A MILLION TIMES. WHY DON’T WE VOTE ONLINE? WE CAN GAMBLE ONLINE. WE BANK ONLINE. WHY DON’T WE VOTE ONLINE? BECAUSE YOU COULDN’T GUARANTEE THE SECURITY THAT YOU YOU CAN’T GUARANTEE THE SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE. WELL, WE DO, I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THE BALLOTS THAT ARE PROPERLY CAST, I MEAN, WHEN I SAY SECURITY, I THINK THERE’S A THERE’S AMPLE EVIDENCE. THERE HAS BEEN STUDIES DONE ABOUT ONLINE VOTING SIMPLY IS NOT SECURE ENOUGH TO DO. AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS WHO’VE TRIED TO INTERFERE WITH OUR ELECTIONS IN THE PAST. YOU WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE ASKING FOR TROUBLE. ONE OF THE THINGS I’M MOST PROUD OF HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS IS WE ONLY HAVE PAPER BALLOTS, AND I DON’T DO THAT OUT OF ANY SENTIMENTALITY. I DO THAT BECAUSE A PAPER BALLOT, FIRST OF ALL, INSTILLS CONFIDENCE IN THE VOTER. WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED SECRETARY, WE STILL HAD PUNCH CARDS HERE WITH THE NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES WEREN’T ACTUALLY PRINTED ON THE BALLOT. I OUTLAWED THEM THREE YEARS BEFORE FLORIDA GOT RID OF THEM. I GOT RID OF THEM, AND WE BROUGHT IN, AND WE’VE KEPT ONLY PAPER BALLOTS WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE NAME OF THE PERSON YOU’RE VOTING FOR. YOU DOC, ON THE CIRCLE. YOU PUT IT IN THE BALLOT BOX, AND WHEN WE COUNT IT, IF THERE IS AN ISSUE, IF SOMEBODY AND WE HAVE MANY LOCAL RACES THAT HAVE RECOUNTS, WE HAD SOME. AFTER THE SEPTEMBER PRIMARY, IT’S HAND COUNTED. IF THEY IF IT’S REQUESTED, THE CANDIDATES CAN SEE IT, THE CITIZENS CAN SEE IT. THAT’S THE WAY YOU BUILD CONFIDENCE. LET’S TALK ABOUT EARLY VOTING. UNLIKE THE PRIMARY LAST MONTH, VOTER TURNOUT FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 5TH THAT’S EXPECTED TO BE HEAVY. IT’S GOING TO BE HIGH. YEAH, THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD BEGINS OCTOBER 19TH. THAT’S THE EARLY IN PERSON. THE EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING AS OPPOSED TO EARLY BY MAIL. SO ARE YOU CONFIDENT THE STATE’S 351 CITIES AND TOWNS HAVE THE PEOPLE? THE ELECTION WORKERS, THE RESOURCES TO DO THIS RIGHT? I THINK THEY WILL. WE’VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM. THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TURNOVER AT THE CLERK’S OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. WE’VE BEEN HOLDING REGULAR EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS. WE’VE HAD THEM ONLINE AND IN PERSON. WE JUST HAD A LARGE ONE LAST WEEK IN SOUTHBRIDGE, AND WE’RE PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THE PERSONNEL THAT ARE THERE, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE PERSONNEL WORKING BELOW THOSE CLERKS WILL ALSO BE WELL PREPARED. AND WHAT ABOUT SAFETY CONCERNS? ELECTION WORKERS? WE’VE SEEN THEY’VE FACED INTIMIDATION, SAFETY CONCERNS. AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN’T HAD VIOLENT INTIMIDATION HERE, AS SOME STATES HAVE HAD, WE’VE HAD EFFORTS AT INTIMIDATION. BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT AN ELECTION FACILITY, THAT IS TO SAY, A POLLING LOCATION. THERE WILL BE A POLICE OFFICER IN MASSACHUSETTS. WE REQUIRE A POLICE OFFICER TO BE PRESENT AT THE POLLING LOCATION, AND THAT’S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. IT’S A GUARANTEE OF ACTUALLY LAW ORDER AND PROVIDING THAT THERE’S NO POLITICAL ACTIVITY GOING ON. AND IT HAS COME IN VERY, VERY HELPFUL. SO AND IN MOST INSTANCES, PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BEHAVE THEMSELVES AROUND THE POLICE OFFICERS ALSO ARE WIRED INTO THEIR LOCAL POLICE COMMANDER STATION, SO THEY’RE ABLE TO REPORT IF THERE’S AN ISSUE OR AN INCIDENT, WE HEAR ABOUT IT DIRECTLY. SO I’M PRETTY CONFIDENT WE’LL BE SAFE HERE. HERE, HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS. WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE THE FINAL RESULTS ON MOST RACES BEFORE MIDNIGHT. THAT SHOULD BE PRETTY SECURE, BUT THAT WILL LIKELY NOT BE THE CASE ACROSS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, DEMOCRATS ARE FIGHTING A NEW RULE. FOR EXAMPLE, IN GEORGIA, WHICH IS A CRUCIAL SWING STATE, AND GEORGIA IS OBVIOUSLY IN THE IN THE EASTERN TIME ZONE, REQUIRES HAND COUNTING OF BALLOTS. SO THAT COULD DELAY RESULTS BY DAYS, EVEN WEEKS. IT DOES THAT ENTER A DANGER TERRITORY OR NO. WELL, I THINK IT’S A MISTAKE ON GEORGIA’S PART. AND IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO POINT OUT THAT SECRETARY RAFFENSPERGER OPPOSED THIS THIS IS A MISGUIDED EFFORT, I THINK, ON THEIR PART IN MASSACHUSETTS, WE COUNT ELECTRONICALLY FIRST IN THE BALLOT BOX, THE BOX THAT YOU PUT YOUR CARD INTO SPITS OUT NUMBERS THAT WE TABULATE. BUT IF THERE’S A RECOUNT, YOU CAN GO BACK AND COUNT THE CARDS. THAT PART OF THE LAW THAT WOULD BE FINE FOR GEORGIA IF THAT’S THERE. BUT SAYING WE’RE GOING TO HAND COUNT MILLIONS OF BALLOTS IS IS NOT NECESSARY. AND RIDICULOUS. FRANKLY. DO YOU THINK ON ON NOVEMBER FIFTH WE WILL KNOW WHO THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS GOING TO BE? IT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW CLOSE THE ELECTION IS. CERTAINLY, IT WILL BE CLOSE. WELL, THE POLLING SUGGESTS IT IN SOME STATES. I MEAN, LAST TIME, WE KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, IN ARIZONA, IT WAS 10,000 VOTES. WE KNOW IN GEORGIA IT WAS CLOSER THAN THAT. PENNSYLVANIA TOOK SEVERAL DAYS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THINGS WERE AT. SO IF IT’S REALLY, REALLY CLOSE, IT’S GOING TO TAKE TIME. AND ONE OTHER THING I SHOULD POINT OUT, FOR INSTANCE, HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, IF AS LONG AS A MAIL BALLOT IS POSTMARKED BY THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER, IF IT’S RECEIVED BY THE 8TH OF NOVEMBER, IT SHOULD BE AND MUST BE COUNTED. SIMILARLY, OVERSEAS BALLOTS HAVE UP TO TEN DAYS TO BE RECEIVED, PROVIDED THEY’RE POSTMARKED. SO IF IT’S REALLY CLOSE, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR THOSE BALLOTS TO COME IN. BUT IT WOULD. THE PREMISE IS THAT IT’S REALLY CLOSE. THOSE THOSE COULD BE SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS. IT COULD BE. YEAH. WELL, THE SE

Massachusetts election deadlines, rules: What voters need to know before Nov. 5

Election Day in Massachusetts and across the nation is Tuesday, Nov. 5, but many voters in the Bay State will be casting their ballots early by mail or in person. Regardless of how you choose to participate, these are the dates and deadlines you need to know:VOTER REGISTRATION Deadline: Voters can register, update their registration or change parties in Massachusetts until 10 days before any election. For the Nov. 5 election, the last day to register will be Oct. 26.How to register: Many voters are automatically registered when making certain transactions at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, including applying for or renewing identification. Voters can also register by mailing a registration form to their local election office or going in person. Preregistration: Those who are 16 or 17 years old can preregister to automatically be added to the voter list when they turn 18 and become eligible. VOTING BY MAIL Deadline to request a ballot: Voters have until 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 to request a mail-in ballot, but officials strongly suggest applying as early as possible to allow sufficient time for delivery. How to return a ballot: Mail-in ballots do not necessarily need to be returned by mail. They can also be hand-delivered to a local election office, dropped off at an early voting location or placed in a ballot drop box. For those who do return their ballot by mail, officials suggest sending it back as soon as possible. Massachusetts offers a tracking tool to allow voters to check the status of their ballots. Deadline to return a ballot: Ballots returned in person or via drop box are due by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. Those returned by mail must be postmarked by 5 p.m. Nov. 5, but will be accepted for three extra days. Ballots returned by mail from outside the country must also be postmarked on Election Day but will be accepted until 5 p.m. Nov. 15. Can you still vote in person? Even if you request a mail-in ballot, you may vote in person if you never returned that ballot, if you mailed it but the ballot hasn’t yet arrived or if the ballot was rejected.EARLY VOTING When is early voting available? Early voting periods in Massachusetts are established by state law and include guaranteed weekend hours for every community. For the upcoming election, the period is Oct. 19 through Nov. 1. Find my early voting schedule: Local election officials are required to establish and post an early voting schedule by Oct. 11.ELECTION DAY VOTING Polling hours: Voting locations must be open from 7 a.m. through 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Where do I vote? Voters can find their assigned polling place by searching through the secretary of the commonwealth’s website. WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT? President and vice presidentCongress: one seat in the U.S. Senate and all seats in the U.S. House of RepresentativesFive ballot questionsGovernor’s councilorsState Legislature: state senators and representatives Registers of deedsClerks of courtsCounty commissioners (certain counties only) Click HERE to search for your sample ballot

BOSTON —

Election Day in Massachusetts and across the nation is Tuesday, Nov. 5, but many voters in the Bay State will be casting their ballots early by mail or in person.

Regardless of how you choose to participate, these are the dates and deadlines you need to know:

VOTER REGISTRATION

Deadline: Voters can register, update their registration or change parties in Massachusetts until 10 days before any election. For the Nov. 5 election, the last day to register will be Oct. 26.
How to register: Many voters are automatically registered when making certain transactions at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, including applying for or renewing identification. Voters can also register by mailing a registration form to their local election office or going in person.
Preregistration: Those who are 16 or 17 years old can preregister to automatically be added to the voter list when they turn 18 and become eligible.

VOTING BY MAIL

Deadline to request a ballot: Voters have until 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 to request a mail-in ballot, but officials strongly suggest applying as early as possible to allow sufficient time for delivery.
How to return a ballot: Mail-in ballots do not necessarily need to be returned by mail. They can also be hand-delivered to a local election office, dropped off at an early voting location or placed in a ballot drop box. For those who do return their ballot by mail, officials suggest sending it back as soon as possible. Massachusetts offers a tracking tool to allow voters to check the status of their ballots.
Deadline to return a ballot: Ballots returned in person or via drop box are due by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. Those returned by mail must be postmarked by 5 p.m. Nov. 5, but will be accepted for three extra days. Ballots returned by mail from outside the country must also be postmarked on Election Day but will be accepted until 5 p.m. Nov. 15.
Can you still vote in person? Even if you request a mail-in ballot, you may vote in person if you never returned that ballot, if you mailed it but the ballot hasn’t yet arrived or if the ballot was rejected.

EARLY VOTING

When is early voting available? Early voting periods in Massachusetts are established by state law and include guaranteed weekend hours for every community. For the upcoming election, the period is Oct. 19 through Nov. 1.
Find my early voting schedule: Local election officials are required to establish and post an early voting schedule by Oct. 11.

ELECTION DAY VOTING

Polling hours: Voting locations must be open from 7 a.m. through 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Where do I vote? Voters can find their assigned polling place by searching through the secretary of the commonwealth’s website.

WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT?

President and vice president
Congress: one seat in the U.S. Senate and all seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
Five ballot questions
Governor’s councilors
State Legislature: state senators and representatives
Registers of deeds
Clerks of courts
County commissioners (certain counties only)
Click HERE to search for your sample ballot