Waltham Voting-By-Mail Ballots Being Sent Out: What To Know

WALTHAM, MA — Just weeks ahead of the primary election and as Election Day 2020 also nears, the city clerk's office is beginning to send out mail-in ballots to voters who have requested to vote by mail.

In-person voting will still be available, including expanded early voting for the general election but for the first time early voting is being offered for the primary, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Millions of applications for mail-in, no-excuse ballots were sent to voters beginning last month.

Voting by mail this year will not require a reason — an expected second surge of COVID-19 is reason enough, lawmakers determined. But it will require voters to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot and then return that application to your local elections office by Aug. 26.

If you haven't gotten an application in the mail from Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin's office, you can request one from the city clerk's office and they can be used for the Sept. 1 state primary, Nov. 3 election or both.

Applications can be mailed or dropped off or submitted electronically, provided there is a visible signature.

Due dates:

You need to return your application to Waltham City Hall's election office by Aug. 26 for the primary and Oct. 28 for the general election.

Primary ballots will need to be at your local election office on Sept. 1 by 8 p.m.

General election ballots need to be postmarked no later than Nov. 3 and be back at your local election office no later than Nov. 6.

The city clerk's office is mailing ballots to voters who requested to vote by mail. Ballots can be returned by mail or dropped in the drop box behind City Hall.

See more on voting by mail here: Early Voting By Mail. Her's a look at the Sept. 1 State Primary Election.

- Mike Carraggi/Patch contributed to this report.

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