Newton's early voting period closes at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at City Hall.
The city has hit a record. More than 62,000 Newton residents are registered to vote, according to Fig City News. More than 18,500 mail-in ballots have been sent to voters ahead of the Nov. 3 state and federal election.
City Clerk Drew Willison said the returned mail ballots are "coming in by the crate." Between 200 and 300 people have been voting early in person each day on the first floor of City Hall, 100 Walnut St.
Drop off, don't mail
Willison is asking voters who still have mail-in ballots to drop them off rather than mail them back. As he put it: "The closer we get to Election Day, the less people can count on USPS (even with the several day grace period voters get for a ballot postmarked on or before Election Day)."
Voters can drop ballots in the drop box in front of City Hall or bring them to the City Clerk's office during early voting hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dropped-off ballots must arrive by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
Mailed-back ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received at City Hall by Nov. 6.
Early voting hours
Early voting ran until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. The remaining schedule:
- Thursday, Oct. 29: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 30: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What's on the ballot
The Nov. 3 election covers state and federal offices plus nine ballot questions. The ballot spans two sides of one card and one side of a second card, according to Fig City News.
On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For questions, contact the Newton Election Commission at (617) 796-1350 or [email protected].
Voters in Ward 3, Precincts 3 and 4, who vote at Franklin Elementary should note there is no parking on Derby Street because of road construction. The city advises entering the school parking lot via Cherry Street.
