ABSENTEE AND EARLY BALLOTS FOR THE ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION ARE AVAILABLE BY MAIL. TO APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE OR EARLY BALLOT BY MAIL PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND MAIL OR DROP OFF THE ONLINE APPLICATION. FOR ASSISTANCE OR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE TOWN CLERK AT 978-355-2504 EXT 5 OR EMAIL CLERK@TOWNOFBARRE.COM - more info attached
In response to the State of Emergency and concerns about COVID-19 and its implications on election administration, the Governor signed a law authorizing the Board of Selectmen to vote to postpone the local election which was scheduled for April 6th, 2020. A copy of the law may be viewed here. At its meeting on March 30, 2020, the Board of Selectmen voted to postpone the election to a date to be determined. A copy of the vote may be viewed here.
The law requires the Town to post public notice of the postponed election and rescheduled election date on its website and to broadly publicize the postponement and rescheduling. The Town of Barre will post this notice on the town Facebook page and website www.townofbarre.com ; on www.mytowngovernment.org/01005 ; and will provide additional notice through a press release to the Barre Gazette.
The law establishes a new voter registration deadline of 8:00 p.m. on the 10th day before the rescheduled election. www.registertovote.ma.com
The law authorizes the Town to reuse election materials. The Town will be using the official and absentee ballots used for the April 6th, 2020 election. As required by the law a sample of the ballot may be viewed here.
In light of widespread practice of social distancing, the law provides for two alternatives to voting in person:
o First, the law allows any person taking precaution related to COVID-19 to vote by absentee ballot. All applications for an absentee ballot must be received by the Town Clerk before noon on Monday June 1, 2020, the last business day before the election. Any person may apply for an absentee ballot by sending a signed request to the Town Clerk’s office or filling out the absentee ballot application available here.
o Second, the law provides for early voting by mail. All applications for early voting ballots must be received before 12 noon the last business day before the election. Any person may obtain an early voting ballot by sending a signed request to the Town Clerk’s office or by filling out and returning the early voting application available here. Your early voting ballot must be received by the Town Clerk before the polls close 8:00 PM on election day.
The law does NOT make any other changes to elections or the election process. It does NOT, for example, change the number of signatures or the submission deadline for candidates for office.