WESTFIELD – City Clerk Karen Fanion said that absentee ballots are now available at City Hall for residents seeking to participate in the November 3, 2015 municipal election, but may not be able to go to their designated polling location to cast a ballot.
Fanion said Thursday night following the City Council session that the absentee ballots were delivered Wednesday and that two residents took ballots out earlier in the day during normal business (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Residents must be registered as voters and provide a home address because the ballots for the municipal election are ward -specific and because the absentee ballots will be mailed to the voter’s home address.
Fanion said that, under state voting law, “voters must be prevented from voting at their polling place on Election Day due to absence from the city on Election Day; or because of a physical disability; or due to their religious belief.”
The absentee ballot forms can be obtained at the City Clerk’s office. Residents, or a family member, may also send a request in writing to the City Clerk by mail.
The ballots, when completed, have to be mailed back to the clerk’s office.
“Please allow enough time for the ballot to be mailed to you and for you to return the ballot by Election Day,” Fanion said. “All ballots must be received no later than the close of polls at 7 p.m. on Election Day. Absentee ballots must be mailed to the voter and may be either returned by mail or hand delivered to the City Clerk’s Office and Board of Registrars.”
The deadline for obtaining an absentee ballot voting is 12 p.m. (noon) on Monday, Nov. 2, 2015.
The November general election will determine a number of city posts including the mayor, seven At-large City Council members, six Ward City Council members, three School Committee members, membership of the Municipal Light Board and Athenaeum Trustee.
