Disabled Voters Can Apply for Permanent Absentee Status

Absentee ballots for the Nov. 5 Municipal Elections are available in the Town Clerk’s Office as of Friday but a new state law that took effect on Jan. 1 allows disabled residents to apply for permanent absentee balloting status.

Permanent absentee status allows disabled residents to get absentee ballots mailed to them for all the elections they’re eligible to vote in.

To be eligible, an elector must file an absentee ballot application with the Town Clerk along with a doctor's certificate stating that they have a permanent disability and are unable to appear in person at their polling place.

There is official form but a doctor's note on letterhead will satisfy the requirement of the law.

In January of each year, the Registrars of Voters will send written notice to each elector with permanent absentee ballot status to determine if the elector continues to reside at the address on the permanent absentee ballot application.   

If the elector fails to respond to the notice, the permanent absent ballot status will be removed but the elector will remain on the voter registration list.