All citizens are encouraged to vote by mail this year. To do that, however, a registered voter must fill out and mail in an absentee or early voting application, and then have a ballot mailed to them.
Town halls are now closed, and may still be closed even at election time. So those who want absentee ballots must mail in applications far enough in advance for the town clerk to respond in time. (You can also fax or email the ballots to save time. See instructions for each town below.)
Absentee and early voting are technically different, but this year that distinction is not so important. If you are not already registered to vote, you need to do that first. The state has changed the rules during the pandemic to allow extra time to register. But there are still deadlines, and they are soon. For example, the deadline for registering for the Wellfleet town election on June 15 is Friday, June 5.
People with any form of I.D. from the Mass. Registry of Motor Vehicles can register to vote online at www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr.
PROVINCETOWN
- Annual Town Election: Tuesday, June 30
- Voter Registration Deadline: Friday, June 19
- Absentee/early voting: Absentee ballot applications may be addressed to the town clerk at 260 Commercial St., Provincetown MA 02657, or faxed to (508) 487-9560. Allow ample mailing time for the ballot application and the ballot itself. You can hand-deliver your actual ballot to the clerk’s office, or you can mail it, but it must be received by the town clerk’s office by the time polls close on election day to be counted.
TRURO
- Annual Town Election: Tuesday, June 30
- Voter Registration Deadline: Friday, June 19
- Absentee/early voting: Completed and signed applications can be mailed, faxed, emailed (must include a scan with a signature), or (if town hall is open by then) dropped off in person to: Truro Clerk’s Office, 24 Town Hall Rd., P.O. Box 2012, Truro MA 02666-2012; Fax: (508) 349-5505; Email: [email protected].Ballots must be returned by election day.
WELLFLEET
- Annual Town Election: Monday, June 15
- Voter registration deadline: Friday, June 5
- Absentee/early voting: To submit an application to vote by mail, print out an application, fill it out, sign it, and mail to Town Clerk, 300 Main St., Wellfleet MA 02667, or you may email it to[email protected]. You may also drop it at town hall in the drop box at the back door by the tax collector’s office. A ballot will be mailed to you, or if you email the town clerk, she will put one out in the drop box for you. Ballots must be returned by end of voting on June 15 at 7 p.m.
EASTHAM
- Annual Town Election: Tuesday, June 23
- Voter Registration Deadline: Friday, June 12
- Absentee/early voting: By mail, Eastham Town Clerk, 2500 State Hwy., Eastham, MA 02642. One can email the absentee ballot application or an early voting ballot application to [email protected]. Ballots must be returned by 6 p.m. on election day. If you have questions regarding absentee or early voting, or elections in general, call (774) 801-3225.
