Graffeo Issues 2024 Annual Town Election Voter Options Guide

Town election is scheduled for April 6; vote by mail option available

This guide outlines the options voters have to participate in the local election by mail, absentee ballot or in person on Election Day. Early voting in person will be not be available for the April 6, 2024 Annual Town Election.

You can also download a copy of the PDF below.

Helpful links:

Vote By Mail
All registered voters qualify to vote by mail in the Annual Town Election. Request your ballot here.

Tip: Apply early to allow ample time for processing your application and for the postal services to deliver your ballot to you. If you are concerned about applying too early, please note that voters can hold on to their ballot and return it during the week prior to the election. Voters who receive a vote by mail ballot but do not return it prior to election day may appear to vote in person on election day to cast a ballot.

Any voter that has returned a vote by mail ballot (or voted early in person) cannot vote on Election Day.

Applications can be returned by mail (postage is prepaid on the postcard application mailed to you),
placed in the drop box outside of the main entrance to Town Hall (1009 Main Street) or scanned and emailed to townclerk@tewksbury-ma.gov.

IMPORTANT: A signature is required to process your application.

Voters who have applied for a vote by mail ballot may use this link to track the status of their application as well as their ballot status (mailed/received back). Please note that we anticipate a large volume of applications — there are over 24,000 voters in Tewksbury — and request you allow a minimum of 10 days to receive your ballot from the status date of mailing.

Please DO NOT contact the Clerk’s Office to check on your status until the recommended amount of time listed above has passed. Inquiries should be sent to townclerk@tewksbury-ma.gov

LEARN MORE ABOUT VOTING BY MAIL

There are three ways to return voted ballots:

Drop ballots off in the DROP BOX at the Main Entrance of Town Hall 24-7 until 8 p.m. on Election Day
IN PERSON at the Town Clerk’s Office Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. & Friday 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
BY MAIL

Please note that US Postal delivery services are not consistent and can range from 3 to 11 days. We recommend voters return their ballots in person or in the drop box outside of the town offices by 8PM on Election Day to ensure it arrives back to us in time to count.

Track Your Application and Ballot
Voters who receive a vote by mail ballot but do not return it prior to Election Day may appear to vote in person and cast a ballot on Election Day. Any voter that has returned a vote by mail ballot (or voted early in person) is not permitted to appear to vote in person on Election Day.

Deadlines for ballots to be returned and counted: All ballots must be received at Town Hall by 8PM on Election Day

Absentee Voting
You can vote by absentee ballot (by mail or in person) if:

You will be away from your city or town on Election Day
You have a religious belief that prevents you from voting at your polling location on Election Day
You have a disability that prevents you from voting at your polling location

Absentee voters use the same ballots as early Vote by Mail voters and have the same deadlines for returning their ballots. Most voters who qualify for an absentee ballot can choose instead to apply for
an early Vote by Mail ballot. There are some times that an absentee ballot application is needed.
You should fill out an absentee ballot application if:

You are on active military duty
You are a U.S. citizen living outside the U.S.
You will be away from your city or town on Election Day
You are requesting an emergency absentee ballot due to hospitalization
You are currently incarcerated for a reason other than a felony conviction

Early Voting FAQ
If I applied for a vote by mail or absentee ballot, can I appear to vote in person at an early voting site or at the polls on Election Day?
YES — If your ballot has not been received back to the Town Clerk’s Office. You may still appear to vote in person at the polls on Election Day. Should your mail in ballot be received after you voted early or at the polls on Election Day that ballot will be rejected and will not be counted.
NO — If a ballot has already been received back by the Town Clerk’s Office. A returned vote by mail ballot or absentee ballot is considered cast and you will not be eligible to vote in person at the polls on Election Day.

When & how is vote by mail or absentee ballot cast?
All vote by mail and absentee ballots will be opened and inserted into a tabulator before Election Day or fed through the tabulators at the polls on Election Day. These ballots will be kept secured, locked, and unexamined until the polls are closed on Election Day.

NOTICE OF ADVANCE REMOVAL AND DEPOSITING OF EARLY VOTED BALLOTS
In accordance with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Regulations 47.12 and under the provision of section 10 (h) of Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2022, the Town of Tewksbury will be opening and/or depositing Early Voted Ballots at Town Hall, 1009 Main Street at the following sessions for the April 6, 2024 Annual Town Election:

Monday, April 1st beginning at 9:00 AM
Tuesday, April 2nd beginning at 9:00 AM
Wednesday, April 3rd beginning at 9:00 AM
Thursday, April 4th beginning at 9:00 AM
Friday, April 5th beginning at 9:00 AM

2024-Annual-Town-Election-Voter-Options-Guide Download