In-Person Early Voting For State Primary Begins Saturday, Aug. 22

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Photo: Early voting starts Aug. 22

In-person early voting for the Massachusetts State Primary will take place statewide from Saturday, Aug. 22 to Friday, Aug. 28., according to a press release from Ellen Cushman, Belmont’s Town Clerk.

In Belmont, all early primary voting will take place at Town Hall, Concord Avenue in Belmont Center. Only voters who are registered as Democratic, Republican, Green Rainbow or Libertarian will be able to vote.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Sept. 1, voters must go to their precincts to cast ballots that day.

Belmont’s in-person hours are:

  • Saturday, Aug. 22        10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 
  • Sunday, Aug. 23           10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Monday, Aug. 24          8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 25          8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Aug. 26    8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Aug. 27        8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Friday, Aug. 28             8 a.m. – NOON 

Tuesday’s Belmont Annual Election Will Be A 10 And 2 Event

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Photo: Belmont Town Election will take place Tuesday, June 23.

The usual combination of heavy sweaters, boots and gloves will be traded in for summer outfits, sandals and shorts as Belmont’s annual town election was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic from its traditional early April date to the first two days of summer.

The Town Election will be held Tuesday, June 23 with new special hours for voting. Poll hours are limited to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Belmont’s eight voting precincts. Only voters will live in Precinct 2 will vote at Town Hall. 

“Voting in person will be different with social distancing protocols and other safety measures in place to protect Belmont’s election workers and voters,” said Town Clerk Ellen O’Brien Cushman. 

“Ideally most people who want to vote in the local election will do so by mail to limit exposure. Voters choosing absentee voting must submit a written signed request to receive ballots by mail,” said Cushman.

This year with expanded voting, approximately 2,000 Belmont voters have received Absentee and Early Voting ballots. All ballots must be received by the Town Clerk by 2 p.m., the close of polls on June 23. To ensure your ballot gets counted, we ask you to deposit your voted ballot in our Town Clerk dropbox, located at the base of the steps to Town Hall at the parking lot level. 

For those who have not yet filed an application to receive an Absentee or Early Voting ballot, time is running out to apply for and receive a ballot. Though the legal deadline to submit an application is Monday, June 22 at noon, per Mass General Laws, the likelihood that a ballot will reach the voter by US Mail on June 23 is slim. 

Presidential Primary Elections Include Early Voting Days

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Photo: Early voting is coming to Belmont.

Belmont’s Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians and Green/Rainbows will have the chance to vote for presidential candidates in their party’s primary election from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3 after the Select Board signed the warrant approving the measure, according to Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman.

In addition to the four party voters, the 9,000 residents registered as unenrolled can pick up one of the party’s ballots to vote for those candidates. But if you belong to the Pizza or Pirate parties – yes, the state recognize those political entities – you’ll have to sit this one out.

Voters will cast their ballots at their usual polling precinct. Residents can register to vote, change their party affiliation, change their name or voting address up until Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. at the Town Clerk’s Office in Town Hall.

Cushman will also be registering students at Belmont High School on Feb. 10 during the lunch periods outside the cafeteria.

Cushman has announced a week of early voting on the following dates and times:

  • Monday, Feb. 24        8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 25        8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 26  8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Feb. 27     8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Feb. 28          8 a.m. to Noon

All Early Voting will take place at the Belmont Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave. Election Day voting will take place at each of the eight voting precinct locations.

Early Voting is available to all voters of the Commonwealth, unlike Absentee Voting that is only available to those voters who will not be in Belmont on Election Day or cannot vote in person on Election Day due to a medical disability or religious conflict with voting on Election Day.

The Town Clerk’s office always recommends that voters carry  identification when going to the polls or Early Voting in case one is required due to inactive status.

Questions should be directed to the Town Clerk’s office at 617-993-2600.

Want To Vote Nov. 6? Registration Deadline Is Oct. 17; Early Voting Starts Oct. 22

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Photo: Now is the time to register to vote.

If you are looking to vote on the Belmont 7-12 School debt proposal, several ballot questions or for the slew of federal, state or district candidates seeking office this fall, the voter registration deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 17 to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 6 state election.

A person can register to vote in Belmont if:

  • You are living in Belm0nt; and
  • You are at least 18 years old or will be 18 years old on or before Election Day; and
  • You are a citizen of the United States.

Property ownership alone does not entitle a person to register to vote in Belmont; you must also live in Belmont.

In order to be eligible to vote in the upcoming state election, the voter registration must be received or postmarked by the 20th day preceding the election, on Oct. 17.  The Town Clerk’s office will remain open until 8 p.m. to receive voter registrations and changes to voter registrations on Oct. 17.

Check your current voter registration status at the Secretary of State website.

Are you a registered voter in another Massachusetts town or a different state?

If you were a registered to vote in another Massachusetts town or state, you must register to vote in Belmont in order to vote here.  See below for voter registration access.

Have you moved or changed your name since you registered to vote in Belmont or last voted in Belmont? 

The deadline for registered Belmont voters who want to make changes of address within Belmont, or name or party affiliation is also Oct. 17.  See below for voter registration change.

Online Voter Registration for residents who have a current Massachusetts Driver’s License or Massachusetts State ID issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Voter Registration Documents are also available at the Town Clerk’s office in Town Hall, 455 Concord Avenue or online at the Town Clerk’s web pages.

Find out if you are registered to vote and where you vote, sample ballots and more

Change of Belmont address forms for voters who are already registered to vote in Belmont

Change of Party affiliation forms for voters who are already registered to vote in Belmont

Early Voting will be available at Town Hall Oct. 22 starting at 8 a.m. through Nov. 2 at Noon.

Any registered voter of Belmont can choose to cast an Early Voting ballot for this election. Belmont’s Early Voting will take place only at Town Hall; the Early Voting Period is dictated by law.  Early Voting is different from Absentee Voting, in that any voter can cast an Early Voting ballot but only those voters who qualify may request us to mail an Absentee Ballot (see the qualifications below).  If you’ll be in Belmont during the Early Voting period, why not consider stopping into Town Hall to cast your ballot instead of having us mail an Absentee Ballot to your home?

The full schedule of extended Early Voting times and dates, including evening and Saturday hours, will be published next week and updated on the Town Clerk’s web pages,

Why Wait? Vote Now for Town Election Via Absentee Ballot

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Photo: Absentee voting starts … now!

Don’t miss out voting in the annual Town Election – just 15 days away! – since Tuesday’s are “date” night or because you can’t find a sitter for your pet beagle.

Absentee voting for the April 5 election is now available in the Town Clerk’s Office, located on the ground floor of Town Hall. Anyone wishing to vote absentee should visit the Clerk’s office during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) up until noon on Monday, April 4.

Questions? Contact the Town Clerk at 617-993-2600 or e-mail townclerk@belmont-ma.gov