Mass. secretary of state: Interest seems low as Election Day approaches

BOSTON — In reviewing the election cycle so far, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin said Friday he hopes the election grows more interesting to voters as Nov. 8 draws closer.

Early in-person voting starts Saturday, with polls open through two weekends. And of the 1,071,000 million mail-in ballots requested by the electorate, only 157,000 have been returned.

Not exactly a flood.

Galvin, a Democrat who is himself on the ballot  facing two challengers, Republican Rayla Campbell and Juan Sanchez of the Green-Rainbow Party, blames the lack of  marquee races and the late date for Election Day.

The four statewide ballot initiatives, particularly Questions 1 (which would raise the tax on incomes above $1 million) and 4 (on allowing driver's licenses regardless of citizenship status), seem to be generating the most interest, Galvin said, praising the “thoroughness” of voters as they took time to ponder the questions before opting to cast their ballots.

More: What's on my Massachusetts ballot? Here's what you need to know plus early voting info

“Voters are concerned with the contradictions” in the ballot question campaigns, Galvin said Friday as he explained the early voting process which starts Saturday and continues through next weekend.

Late Election Day adds to lack of momentum

An analysis of mail-in ballot requests shows that the bulk of the requests come from older voters, those between the ages of 50 and 70. Galvin also qualified it as a more suburban than urban phenomenon.

“People like to vote in person,” Galvin said. However, there are many reasons people may want to access the early voting options, from scheduling conflicts to mobility issues.

More: 2022 election: MA legislature passes bill allowing mail-in voting, 2 weeks of early voting

Mail-in ballots can be dropped in any mailbox or in special drop boxes placed by cities and towns, but cannot be handed to poll workers on Election Day.

All ballots postmarked by Nov. 8 will be processed and counted, Galvin said. That's a change from the September preliminary election,  when mail-in ballots  had to be in hand by the election in order to be counted. Galvin said that absentee, overseas and military ballots have three extra days, through Nov. 12, to be considered on time.

Allow seven days for mail-in ballots to be delivered

The U.S. Postal Service advises that voters allow seven days for ballots to be delivered, Galvin urged voters who delay mailing their ballots past Nov. 1 to drop them in designated ballot boxes or with their municipal election officials.

Municipalities can start processing early voting ballots at their discretion; however, tallying votes can only start once the polls close at 8 p.m. on Nov. 8.

More: Mail-in voting backlash: MassGOP files lawsuit to overturn new Massachusetts elections law

“This allows election night to proceed more swiftly,” Galvin said.

The VOTES Act passed this spring in Massachusetts, which made mail-in voting permanent, also requires municipalities to hold early voting on two separate weekends  and extended the registration deadline by 10 days. Voters can still register through Oct. 29.

Galvin, who endorses Election Day registration and has advocated for it in the past, expects the issue will be on the plates of state legislators in the next session.

Rules for early voting sites match up with the rules governing Election Day polling places; sign holders are restricted to 150 feet from the entrance to the polling place and cannot question or harass voters. Political T-shirts, buttons, pins, ties and other paraphernalia are also barred from polling locations.

Anyone interested in being a poll worker can apply, Galvin said, explaining that all are welcome; there is not questioning of political ideology or affiliation. Applicants are trained on how the process works. Anyone not following the rules, anyone who decides to process ballots “their own way,” will be terminated.

It's about voters, not candidates or campaigns

“Voters have a protected zone where they can be by themselves” to make their choices, Galvin said, explaining that the process is “all about the voter,” not candidates or campaigns.

Observers are allowed, “it’s not a secret process,” Galvin said. But if observers break the rules, they will be ousted. (There is a police officer posted at every polling place in Massachusetts.)

“We will not tolerate any interference or questioning of voters,” Galvin said.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Early Voting in MA: what you need to know for Election 2022