FAQs

Election FAQs: State Primary

GENERAL QUESTIONS

When is the election?

The election is Tuesday, September 1. In-person voting will be available between 7A.M. and 8 P.M. at your usual polling place.

Who/what are we voting for?

In the September 1 primary election, U.S. Representative Joseph Kennedy III and U.S. Senator Edward Markey are running for the Democratic nomination; Shiva Ayyadurai and Kevin O'Connor are competing for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

Also on the Democratic party ballot are candidates for U.S. Congress, state legislature, Governor’s Council and Register of Probate. On the Republican party ballot is a candidate for state Representative. There are no candidates on the Green-Rainbow and Libertarian ballots in Sudbury.

You can find specimen ballots here: https://sudbury.ma.us/clerk/2020/07/27/special-town-election-june-4-2019-2/#ballots

How can I vote in this election?

For this election, you can vote:

By mail (ballots must be received in the clerk’s office by Sept. 1)
In-person, early (Aug. 22-28 at Town Hall)
In-person, on election Day (Sept 1, at your usual polling place)

How can I register to vote?

Register to vote on-line here: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/ if you have a Massachusetts driver’s license or state-issued ID card. Otherwise, fill out an application at the town clerk’s office or download a voter registration form here https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Voter-reg-mail-in.pdf

What is the deadline to register to vote in this election?

The last day to register to vote for this election is August 22, 2020.

VOTING BY MAIL

How do I get a mail-in ballot?

The deadline to apply for a ballot by mail for this election is by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2020. Apply sooner or you may not receive your ballot in time. Applications should be filed with the Town Clerk’s office as soon as possible as it may take 5 to 8 days to receive your Vote by Mail packet and ballot.

Print and fill out the application: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2020-Vote-by-Mail-Application.pdf

Note: for the primary election, you will receive the ballot for the party in which you are enrolled. If you are an unenrolled voter, you may choose any party’s ballot.

Mail or hand-deliver the completed application to:

Sudbury Town Clerk

322 Concord Road

Sudbury, MA 01776

Town Clerk Office Hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:30-4:30
Tuesday: 8:30-7:00
Friday: 8:30-12:30

Ballot applications may also be deposited into the secure ballot drop boxes in the vestibule at the rear of Town Hall, 322 Concord Road, and the drive-through dropbox at Goodnow Library, both available 24 hours a day.

Ballot applications may also be submitted electronically by fax or e-mail, as long as your signature is visible. Email a signed, scanned copy to votebymail@sudbury.ma.us or fax to (978)-639-3340.

What is the deadline to request a mail-in ballot?

The deadline to apply for a ballot by mail for this election is by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2020. Applications should be filed with the Town Clerk’s office as soon as possible as it may take 5 to 8 days to receive your ballot.

When must ballots be returned?

Ballots must be received in the Town Clerk’s office by 8 pm on September 1, 2020 to be counted. Allow enough time if you mail your ballot; otherwise drop your ballot in the dropbox in the rear vestibule Town Hall, the new ballot dropbox at Goodnow Library (21 Concord Road), or deliver in person to the clerk during office hours (see above). Ballots delivered after August 31 must be left in the drop box at the the Town Clerks office.

How do I complete and return my ballot?

When you receive your Vote by Mail packet:

Fill out the ballot
Place ballot in yellow envelope, SIGN YOUR NAME and seal the envelope. The envelope must be signed for your ballot to count.
Place sealed, yellow envelope into white envelope, and seal
Return your ballot one of these ways:

By Mail, no stamp needed, to Sudbury Town Clerk, 322 Concord Road, Sudbury MA, 01776 OR
Drop off in the ballot dropbox in the rear vestibule of Town Hall at 322 Concord Road, available 24 hours/7 days a week
Drop off in the new ballot dropbox at Goodnow Library (21 Concord Road), available 24 hours/7 days a week until 5pm on August 31. (Not open on Sept 1; ballots must be returned to the Town Hall dropbox or Town Clerk’s office if being delivered Sept. 1.)
Deliver ballot in person to Town Clerk’s office during office hours.

Note: Ballots must be returned to the Town Clerk’s office by 8 pm on September 1, 2020 to be counted. Mail-in ballots can not be brought to the polling place.

Can I check to make sure my mail-in ballot was received?

Yes, using the MA “Track My Ballot” website: www.TrackMyBallotMA.com

When is the Town Hall vestibule open for access to the ballot dropbox?

24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When is the library drop box open?

The new ballot drop box at Goodnow Library (21 Concord Road) is open 24 hours/7 days a week until 5pm on August 31. (Not open on Sept 1; ballots must be returned to the Town Hall drop box or Town Clerk’s office if being delivered Sept. 1. Do not return them to polling places.)

I am currently staying out of town. Can I request that a mail ballot be sent to an address different from the address on my voter registration?

Yes. Use the address where you wish to receive your ballot when filling out your application.

VOTING IN PERSON

Is early in-person voting possible?

Yes. Early Voting in person is available to all registered voters who prefer to cast their ballot prior to election day. Facial coverings will be required and social distancing observed.

When and where can I vote early?

All early voting for this election will take place at Lower Town Hall meeting room, regardless of where you normally vote in Sudbury.

DATES:

Saturday, August 22 through Friday, August 28, 2020

HOURS:

Sat and Sun. 10 AM – 2 PM

M, W, Th) 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Tu) 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM

F) 8:30 AM -12:30 PM

LOCATION:

Town Clerk’s Office, Lower Town Hall, 322 Concord Road. (NOTE: there is no early in-person voting at Fairbank Community Center - all in-person early voting happens at Town Hall.)

Where do I vote on Election Day?

One Election Day only, you can vote at your usual polling place, 7 A.M. - 8 P.M. on September 1. (Early in-person voting happens only at Town Hall for all registered voters).

Fairbank Community Center – Precincts 1, 1A, 2 and 5
Town Hall – Precincts 3 and 4

How do I find my polling place?

This link will tell you whether you are registered, what your precinct is and where to vote: www.WhereDoIVoteMA.com

QUESTIONS RELATED TO COVID-19

Is it safe to vote in person?

The Sudbury Select Board, the Sudbury Board of Health, and the Sudbury Town Clerk’s office are encouraging as many voters as possible to vote by mail. If you need or choose to vote in person, the Town Clerk’s office, with the approval of the Sudbury Board of Health, has created a plan to make voting in person as safe as possible. You will find new precautions being taken at your polling place.

Do I need to wear a mask when I vote?

Yes. Facial coverings will be required and social distancing observed.

Can I use my own pen to mark the ballot?

Yes, you may use your own pen as long as the ink is blue or black.

Will voting booths, pens, door handles and other common items be disinfected between voters?

Yes. Voting booths, pens, and counters are disinfected throughout the day. There will be hand sanitizer available as voters exit the room. Voters should not use gel sanitizer while they are holding the ballots, as it could compromise them.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Sudbury Town Clerk’s website:

https://sudbury.ma.us/clerk/2020/07/27/special-town-election-june-4-2019-2/

Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Voting by Mail FAQs:

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleev/early-voting-faq.htm

League of Women Voters of MA: New Voter Registration Information and Voting Changes: https://lwvma.org/voting-and-election-information/election-2020/