Cambridge Civic Journal Forum

Aug 18, 2020 – You have a number of voting options if you are a registered voter in Cambridge:
Mail-In Voting, Early Voting, Absentee Voting, and Election Day voting

If you applied for a mail-in ballot, you may choose to (a) mail it using the envelope provided; (b) drop it off at the Ballot Drop Box at 51 Inman Street (see below); (c) or drop it off at one of the three Early Voting Sites (Aug 22-Aug 28 – see below).

If you plan to vote in person, please be aware of the necessary safety precautions (see below). Your options are Early Voting (see below) or at your precinct’s polling place on Election Day. Please be aware that 14 polling locations have been changed for this year’s elections (see below).

You may also apply for an absentee ballot (see below).

BALLOT DROP BOX HOURS

Every Day from 8:00am – 8:00pm
51 Inman Street

Voters: please note that you must deposit your ballot in the drop box
by Tuesday, September 1 by 8:00pm in order for it to be counted.

You may also deposit your ballot into a drop box at any Early Voting Site
at the following locations during early voting hours:

Moses Youth Center – 243 Harvard Street Main Entrance
Cambridge Water Department 250 Fresh Pond Pkwy.
Valente Library, 826 Cambridge Street Side Entrance (on Berkshire St.)

Early Voting Schedule:
Saturday, August 22: 2:00pm – 8:00pm
Sunday, August 23: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Monday – Friday, August 24 – 28: 9:30am – 5:00pm

For more information please visit the Cambridge Election Commission website at:
www.cambridgema.gov/election
or call 617-349-4361

THANK YOU!

Ballot Drop Box w/Joyce Gerber

Note: If you submitted an application for a mail-in ballot and have not yet received it, you can check the status at:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/track/trackmyballot.aspx

Cambridge Election Commission Announces Temporary Relocation of 14 Polling Sites in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Aug 13, 2020 – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to protect the safety of Cambridge residents, voters, and election staff, the Cambridge Election Commission has announced that Cambridge polling sites located in high-risk facilities will be temporarily relocated for the upcoming 2020 State Primary and General Election.

If a voter’s polling site has been relocated, the new polling location will be based in the same ward and precinct or near their regular polling place. Additionally, signage will also be posted at the regular polling site to help direct voters to their temporary polling sites.

In the next few weeks, Cambridge voters will receive an Early Voting Guide and a Voter Notification Card via the U.S. Postal Service. Voters are strongly encouraged to read both documents, as they contain information pertaining to any relocated polling places and other critical election-related information for the 2020 fall elections. This information is also available via an Interactive Polling Place Map and Polling Place PDF on the City’s website.

As a reminder, in order to vote on Election Day, you must be registered. To check voter registration status , and to find information on how to register to vote, visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: www.registertovotema.com. If an individual needs to register to vote, they may do so online. A license, or an I.D. issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles is required to apply online. To be eligible to vote in the State Primary on September 1st, residents must register to vote or make any necessary changes to their voter registration by the deadline of Saturday, August 22nd at 8 p.m.

All voters will be asked to wear a face mask or covering and to practice physical distancing in the polling sites on Election Day to help minimize public health risks.

Additional information and updates related to COVID-19 and voting can be found on the City’s website at www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/voting.

Revised List of Cambridge Polling Places

Cambridge Election Commission Announces Mail-in and In-person Voting Options, Temporary Relocation of Polling Sites, and Designated Early Voting Locations, Dates and Hours for the State Primary

Aug 10, 2020 – In order to provide increased voting options in response to COVID-19, House Bill 4820 was passed and signed into law as Chapter 115 of the Acts of 2020 “for the immediate preservation of public health and convenience.” Accordingly, early voting is available to all voters for the State Primary, September 1st and the State/Presidential Election, November 3rd. Early voting is available by mail and in person to all registered voters and no excuse is required.

To vote by mail, all you need to do is:

1. Complete a Vote by Mail Application; you can download an application at www.MailMyBallotMA.com;
2. Applications can be sent by: email to elections@cambridgema.gov, mail to Election Commission, 51 Inman Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, or fax to 617-349-4366
3. Vote when your ballot arrives;
4. Return your ballot to the Cambridge Election Commission by mail or in-person. The Election Commission is open to the public by appointment only.

The deadline to submit a Vote by Mail application for a mailed ballot for the primary is Wednesday, August 26th by 5:00pm.

The deadline to return a Vote by Mail ballot is September 1st by 8:00pm in order to be counted.

To vote in-person, visit any of the three (3) early voting locations offered in Cambridge during the period of Saturday, August 22nd to Friday, August 28th for the State Primary. You must be a registered voter in Cambridge to vote at the early voting locations. Please refer to the city’s designated early voting schedule below.

The deadline to vote early in-person is Friday, August 28th at 5:00pm.

Please be advised that once a voter has cast an early voting ballot, the voter may no longer vote at the polls on Election Day.

City of Cambridge Designated Early Voting Locations, Hours and Days

Moses Youth Center – 243 Harvard Street, Main Entrance

Cambridge Water Department – 250 Fresh Pond Parkway

Valente Library – 826 Cambridge Street, Side Entrance on Berkshire Street

The Election Commission office located at 51 Inman Street will NOT be an early voting location for the State Primary, September 1st. Voters must go to one of the designated early voting locations listed above.

Additional Voting Options

Voting on Election Day will still be available for those who may want to vote at the polls. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, some polling sites like those in high-risk facilities were temporarily relocated for the upcoming 2020 State Primary, September 1st. Your temporary location will be in the same ward and precinct or near your regular polling place to provide voter convenience and to minimize voter confusion. In the next few weeks, voters will receive an Early Voting Guide and a Voter Notification Card. Both will have information pertaining to any relocated polling places and other important election related information. Signage will also be posted to help voters find their temporary polling sites.

For anyone wanting to vote early in-person, vote by mail or vote on Election Day, the first step is making sure you are registered. To check to see if you are registered to vote, and to find information on how to register to vote, you may visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: www.registertovotema.com. If you need to register to vote, you may do so online. You a license, or an I.D. issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles to apply online. To be eligible to vote in the State Primary, September 1st, you must register to vote or make any necessary changes to your voter registration by the deadline of Saturday, August 22nd at 8:00pm.

Whenever possible, we ask voters to wear a face mask or covering in the early voting locations and on Election Day at the polling sites and adhere to social distancing requirements to help mitigate public health risks. In addition, hand sanitizer will be available for use by voters upon entering and exiting the voting area. We encourage all our citizens to exercise their right to and take advantage of the voting options available.