Voting In Medford: Everything You Need To Know

Alex Newman
·3 min read

MEDFORD, MA — Election Day is almost here in Medford, even though voting has been going on for weeks in what is shaping up to be a historic election.

In addition to the presidential and congressional races, there are several key races at the state and local level, plus two ballot questions. Voting will be different this year thanks to rules approved to expand early and mail-in voting in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

There are several ways residents can vote:

Mail-In Voting

Ballots can be returned by mail, emailed, faxed or returned to City Hall. You may drop it into the City Hall Mail Drop Box outside of City Hall (Clippership Drive side entrance) or bring it to the Welcome Desk.

Mail-in ballots need to be postmarked by Nov. 3 and returned to the local election office no later than Nov. 6.

Regular voting

Polls in Massachusetts are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can also use the Secretary of State's website to find your polling place.

  • *The polling location for Ward 3, Precinct 1 has changed. If you normally vote at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital, your NEW polling place is the American Legion Post at 321 Winthrop St.

  • * The entrance to the Ward 4, Precinct 1 polling location will be via the Cousens Gym entrance. Voting will take place in the lobby.

You can view sample Medford ballots on the Town Clerk website if you want a preview before heading out to vote.

COVID-19 Requirements Will Be In Place

Voters must adhere to all Covid-19 guidelines as set by the State and/or the City's Board of Health. Regulations include:

  • Voters, observers, and staff must wear face coverings. Face coverings must be worn over the nose and mouth.

  • Social distancing guidelines will be enforced while voters wait in line both inside and outside the polling place, as well as at voting booths.

  • Election staff will disinfect each voting both and pen after every use.

The following are the key contested races that will be on the ballot for Medford voters:

President/Vice President

  • Joe Biden/Kamala Harris (Democrat)

  • Donald Trump/Mike Pence (Republican) - Incumbent

  • Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (Libertarian)

  • Howie Hawkins/Angela Walker (Green-Rainbow)

5th Congressional District

  • (i) U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark (D)

  • Caroline Colarusso (R)

U.S. Senate

  • (i) Edward Markey (D)

  • Kevin O'Connor (R)

Ballot Questions

Question 1: "Right To Repair" Vehicle Access Requirement Initiative

Yes: A yes vote would require carmakers to expand access to mechanical data for all cars sold in Massachusetts beginning with model year 2022.
No: A no vote leaves the 2013 right-to-repair law unchanged.

Question 2: Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative

Yes: A yes vote favors adopting a system gives voters the option of ranking candidates on their ballot in order of preference, as opposed to selecting just one. And if no candidate gets more than 50 percent of first-choice votes, the candidate with the least first-choice votes is eliminated, and the voters who preferred that candidate have their votes reallocated based on their second choices. Then the ballots are recounted and the process is repeated until one candidate breaks the 50 percent threshold.
No: A no vote keeps the current system in place.

This article originally appeared on the Medford Patch