Galvin: Voters Should Switch to Drop Boxes Before Nov. 3
Statewide early voting has reached 14.3 percent of registered voters, with Boston in-person options closing Friday.
By Layla Fontaine ·
Secretary of State William Galvin advised Massachusetts voters on Tuesday to return mail-in ballots via drop boxes rather than the US mail as Election Day approaches.
The state has recorded 739,000 early votes, according to figures released Monday afternoon. That total represents 14.3 percent of registered voters in the Commonwealth. The count includes 555,235 mail-in ballots and 183,823 votes cast at in-person early voting locations.
Galvin stated that voters entering the final week before the election should avoid the risk of postal delays. "Within one week of Election Day, we always warn voters not to take the risk of mailing their ballot, if they are able to use a drop box instead," he said.
He noted that ballots received within three days of Election Day remain valid if postmarked by Nov. 3. He warned that postmarks may appear a day or two after a ballot enters the mailbox. He recommended that voters bring ballots to a post office counter to ensure proper postmarking.
In Boston, polls will open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. In-person early voting in the city ends Friday, Oct. 30, at Boston City Hall and select neighborhood sites. The ballot includes contests for governor, other statewide constitutional offices, state and county positions, and nine ballot questions.
