MA Voters Should Hand Deliver Mail-In Ballots, Galvin Says

BOSTON — Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin is urging voters to hand deliver their mail-in ballots to drop boxes and election offices around the state, instead of dropping them in the mail, in an effort to ensure they arrive in time and are counted for the Sept. 1 primary.

The announcement comes as communities across the state are rallying to show support for their local post offices.

"If you are able to do so, the best way to ensure that your ballot is counted is to deliver it in person," Galvin said.

Ballots can be dropped off at early voting locations, and drop boxes outside of town halls and city halls around the state. But they must reach each voter’s local election office by 8 p.m. on Sept. 1 in order to be counted.

Early in-person voting began Saturday —which is also the last day to register to vote in the state primary— and held until Aug. 28. Although there has been early voting permitted in the past for regular election, this is the first time early voting has been available for a state primary in Massachusetts.

Read more: Congressional Candidate Sues State To Extend Deadline For Primary

Also on Saturday communities across the state —from Canton to Newton — held rallies to save the U.S. Post Office outside their local post offices.

Read more: Waltham Residents Rally To Support Post Office

Massachusetts's attorney general has said she is filing a lawsuit to stop what critics have called the Trump administration's attempted teardown of the U.S. Postal Service ahead of mail-in voting for the presidential election. Several politicians have accused the postmaster general of helping Trump with efforts to stall mail-in voting, and Trump has said he opposes funding that would allow for more ballots to be cast by mail.

The agency has said it won't be able to guarantee ballots will arrive in time to be counted for the November election.

“The best way to protect the health of our communities and the right to vote is to count every ballot postmarked by September 1st instead of asking people to drop off their ballots,” said Newton City Councilor Becky Grossman who is running for a congressional seat in the Democratic primary.

Grossman is asking the state to do just that.

Read more: Congressional Candidate Sues State To Extend Deadline For Primary

Early voting locations will also serve as ballot drop-off sites for voters who have not yet returned their mail-in ballots.

Galvin also said voters who only recently applied to vote by mail do not need to wait for their ballots to arrive in order to vote. Voters who have not already returned a ballot may still vote in person during the early voting period or at their polling places on Sept 1. You do not need to apply to vote early, you just need to show up, he said.

You can check your voting status and locations and schedules for early voting and location of the drop boxes on the Secretary of State's website. You can also use the website to find your polling place. If you missed the deadline to register to vote, make sure you register for future elections.

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Also:

• Mailboxes Start To Disappear As USPS Reviews Use
• Congressional Candidate Sues State To Extend Deadline For Primary
• Residents Rally To Support Post Office