Westfield City Clerk Karen M. Fanion. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – City Clerk Karen M. Fanion has announced that all registered voters will be able to vote before Election Day for the second time in Massachusetts. Early voting in Westfield will begin on Monday, October 22 and continue through Friday, November 2, 2018.
“It was very successful. People really liked it,” Fanion said about early voting in the 2016 presidential election. The City Clerk’s office processed 4,667 Early Voting ballots out of 25,000 votes cast, approximately 18% of the total.
Previously, the only way a registered voter was allowed to vote prior to Election Day was through absentee voting. Absentee voting will still be legally allowed and available for registered voters who will be absent from Westfield on Election Day, or have a disability that prevents them from going to the polls, or have a religious belief preventing the same.
Early voting is for every registered voter; no reason necessary. The first step in taking advantage of early voting or absentee voting is making sure you are registered. To check voter status please visit www.sec.state.ma.us/ele. If you need to register to vote, please visit www.RegisterToVoteMA.com. All you need is a license or an I.D. issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles to apply online. You may also come into the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall, 59 Court Street, Westfield to register to vote.
The deadline to register to vote for the November 6th, 2018 Election is October 17, 2018. On October 17, 2018 the City Clerk’s Office will be open from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM or register to vote online until midnight.
In Westfield, early voting may be done in person at the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 59 Court Street, 2nd Floor, from October 22 through November 2, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Westfield will be offering additional hours on Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Also, a registered voter may request an early voting ballot through the mail. Simply fill out an application and mail it to the City Clerk’s Office, 59 Court Street, Westfield, MA 01085. You can find the application on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele. or on the City of Westfield’s webpage at www.cityofwestfield.org/vote . The deadline for applying for a mailed early ballot is November 2, 2018 at 12:00 noon.
Please note, once a voter has cast an early voting ballot, the voter may no longer vote at the polls on Election Day.
For further information, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (413) 572-6266.
EARLY VOTING HOURS BY CITY/TOWN:
BLANDFORD
Mondays, October 22 and October 29, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Town Hall at the Town Clerk’s Office.
All registered voters are eligible. No application is necessary to vote in person.
Ballots requested by mail must be returned by mail; no ballots will be mailed out before October 22.
Call Town Clerk at 848-4279, ext. 203 with any questions.
HUNTINGTON
The Early Voting hours are:
Monday, October 22, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday, October 24, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday, October 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday, October 31, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday November 2, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
SOUTHWICK
Early voting can be done in person or by mail. In Southwick, early voting can be done in person at Southwick Town Hall, 454 College Highway during the following dates and times:
Monday, October 22 and Monday, October 29, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 23 and Tuesday, October 30, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 24, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Wednesday, October 31, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 25, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Thursday November 1, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday, October 26, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday, November 2, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Also, registered voters have the option to request an early voting ballot through the mail. Simply fill out an application and mail it to Southwick Town Clerk, 454 College Highway, Southwick, MA 01077. You can find the application on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele. Please note, however, once a voter has cast an early voting ballot, the voter may no longer vote at the polls on Election Day.
SOUTHAMPTON
Voting at Town Hall, 210 College Highway, Southampton, MA.
Monday through Thursday, October 22 to October 25, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Friday, October 26, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Saturday, October 27, 8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Monday, October 29, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday, October 30, 8:30 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday, October 31, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday, November 1, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Friday, November 2, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
TOLLAND
Town of Tolland Early Voting at Town Hall
Monday, October 22, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 23, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Monday, October 29, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday, November 2, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
WESTFIELD
In Westfield, early voting may be done in person at the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 59 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Monday through Friday, October 22 through November 2, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Westfield will be offering additional hours on Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
For any further information, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (413) 572-6266.
