City installs ballot drop box
People can vote by mail, drop returns early or in person on Election Day
FITCHBURG » A ballot drop box was installed at City Hall on Tuesday for residents looking to return their mail-in ballots in person, which is one of three ways to vote in Fitchburg this election season during the pandemic.
This year, residents can vote via mail by filling out a mail-in ballot application which was sent out by the Secretary of State’s office in July.
Previously, individuals were only allowed to vote with mailin absentee ballots if they applied to the state with an excuse as to why they could not do so in person. But in July, a
new law was passed to allow registered voters to vote by mail in any 2020 election, with no excuse needed.
Residents hoping to return their mail-in ballots in person can now drop them off in the new ballot box outside City Hall at 166 Boulder Drive.
“This important voting improvement will allow voters the flexibility to return their ballots safely and efficiently – as their schedule allows – so they can be assured that they are arriving correctly,” City Clerk Mary de Alderete said.
Alderete said it also helps avoid mail backlogs since the drop box will be opened several times during the day.
The box, decorated with an American flag decal, will accept all election related material, including voter registration materials, returned ballots, and ballot requests. It is secure and available 24 hours a day, Alderete said.
The drop box cost will be completely reimbursed by the state, Alderete said, so there was no cost to the City.
Voters can submit vote-by-mail ballot applications to their local election officials until 5 p.m. on Oct. 28.
The United States Postal Service recommends submitting applications no later than Oct. 20, to be sure you receive a ballot in time to return it by mail and have it counted.
Additionally, ballots can be hand-delivered to a local election office or deposited in the designated drop box.
While mail-in ballots had to be submitted prior to the polls closing during the primary election, ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 6 will still be counted.
Ballots hand-delivered before 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 do not require a postmark.
It should be noted that residents who requested a mail-in ballot but did not submit one will be permitted to vote on Election Day.
Residents are also encouraged to track the status of their mail-in ballot online through the state’s new tracking system.
Early voting also begins on Saturday, Oct. 17 and is available until Oct. 30.
City Hall will be open for early voting Oct. 19- Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Oct. 26- Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The building will be open during the same period each weekend from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, or to check your voter registration status, contact the City Clerk’s office at vote@fitchburgma.gov or 978829-1820.