Mail Ballots NOW For Preliminary, Sudbury LWV Advises

SUDBURY, MA — Believe it or not, the 2024 election is coming up quick. The state preliminary is on Sept. 3, but early voters and residents voting by mail will have to act sooner.

While important, the preliminary will be pretty sleepy for Sudbury residents. No legislative seats are contested, but Democrats will pick between Mara Dolan and Marilyn Petito-Devaney (i) in the 3rd District Governor's Council race. Republicans will have a choice between three candidates running to unseat U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Robert Antonellis of Medford, Ian Cain, a Quincy city councilor, and John Deaton, author of the book "Food Stamp Warrior."

Candidates who emerge from the preliminary will go on to the Nov. 5 general election.

The Sudbury Town Clerk is preparing to offer a week of early voting at the town's new consolidated polling site at the Fairbank Community Center. Voters from precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 will all vote there. Here's the early voting schedule:

• Aug. 24, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Aug. 26, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Aug. 28, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Aug. 29, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Aug. 30, 8:30 a.m. to noon

The League of Women Voters of Sudbury is also reminding residents voting by mail to act soon. Here's more from a league news release:

Any registered voter can use a mail ballot to vote in the state primary election scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 3. It’s best to start the mail voting process now to be sure you have time to receive a ballot and return it. The town clerk’s office will begin sending mail ballots to voters in mid-August, three weeks before the election.

If you requested a mail ballot for all elections at the beginning of this year, a ballot will automatically be sent to you; you do not need to submit another request.

If you have not previously requested a mail ballot, you can do so using the postage-paid postcard recently sent to all voters by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, or print and fill out the application found here and return it to the clerk’s office.

Note that the Sept. 3 election is a primary election. Voters who are not enrolled in a party MUST request a specific party’s ballot on their application. Unenrolled voters can request any party’s ballot; the request will not change your unenrolled status. Voters who are enrolled in a party will automatically be sent that party’s ballot.

The law says applications for mail ballots must reach the clerk’s office by Aug. 26, but that date is very late for the office to process the request, send out a ballot, and allow time for the ballot to be returned. It’s best to apply for a mail ballot right away.

When you receive a mail ballot, follow the instructions carefully. Be sure to sign the yellow return envelope or the ballot cannot be accepted. You can return the ballot by mail, or deposit it in the ballot drop box behind Town Hall, 322 Concord Rd. Mail ballots must be received by the clerk’s office by 8 p.m on Election Day Sept. 3. Additional information on mail voting is on the town website.