Newton Eyes Moving Polling Places Ahead Of Election Day

NEWTON, MA — The City Clerk's office is working to determine how to ensure the election season in Newton limits the spread of the coronavirus. Step 1, according to local and state officials has been to encourage voters to opt in to vote by mail. Step 2: has to do with proposing to relocate several polling places.

The City Clerk Friday filed a request to City Council to move polling locations, including those at Cabot Park Village, the Newton Senior Center, Weeks Housing Senior Apartment Facility and the Waban Library Center to nearby elementary schools where there is more space.

Ward 2's polling location at Cabot Park Village was actually originally at the Cabot School, but was moved during that school's renovation. Ward 2's polling place at the senior center would move to Newton North. Ward 6's polling spot at the Weeks Housing Senior Apartment would be moved to the Bowen School on Cypress Street. And Ward 5's polling place at Waban Library Center on Beacon Street would be moved back down the street to the Zervas School.

The Clerk's office said it is requesting the moves in an effort to help give voters more space and to protect the seniors who live at the Cabot Park and Weeks Housing. All three schools won't have students in them on Election Day.

The 2020 state primary election is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The 2020 general election will be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, with mail-in absentee voting available through Nov. 2.

Gov. Charlie Baker signed legislation on July 6 that expanded both early and mail-in voting options for both the state’s primary and general elections. Any voter is eligible to apply for and send in a ballot by mail this year.

The deadline to register to vote has been shortened from 20 days ahead of each election to 10 days beforehand. That means if you want to vote in the state primary you need to register by Aug. 22 and by Oct. 24 to vote in the general election.

The new law requires the state secretary to mail applications for vote-by-mail ballots to voters by Wednesday, July 15. But it also gives registered voters the option of requesting the vote-by-mail ballots, noting voters have to apply for a vote-by-mail option at least four business days before the election so there is enough time to get them to your home and for you to turn around and send them back and be counted in time.

The new law also requires cities to hold seven days of early voting for the Sept. 1 primary election, meaning you will have from Saturday, Aug. 22, to Friday, Aug. 28 to vote in person.

Vote by mail applications are available for download and may also be requested by contacting the Elections Division.

Secretary of State is recommending that all voters wear masks to the polls if they go in person.

Also:

• Brookline Moves 4 Polling Places Ahead Of June Election ...
• Vote By Mail Passes in the MA House of Representatives
• Mail-In Voting, Expanded Early Voting Appears Imminent

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