Hilltown clerks see strong interest in mail-in voting

Aug. 11, 2020 | Amy Porter
amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com

HILLTOWNS – According to Russell Town Clerk Jodie Paradis, “We are getting a tremendous response to the mail-in voting option from Russell residents.”

Chester Town Clerk Rosemary Dalesandro said she has sent out about 105 applications, and “they are trickling back in.”  She said Vote by Mail applications must reach the town clerk’s office no later than Aug. 26 and the ballot needs to be returned by 8 p.m. on Sept. 1.

“You are encouraged to return your application as early as possible to make sure you receive your ballot in time and return it and have it counted,” Dalesandro said.

“So far, we have received close to 250 ballot requests. I will start mailing ballots out next week, as we have just received our materials,” said Huntington Town Clerk Linda Hamlin on Aug. 7.

Hamlin said she is hoping “many more folks will send us Vote-By-Mail ballot requests, as COVID-19 numbers are apparently moving up again. I am hoping that we have a minimal number of voters actually coming to the polls at Stanton Hall on Primary Election Day, and also in November for the Presidential Election.  I'm especially worried about the risk of infection to the poll workers who are giving up their time to man the polls.”  

Hamlin said Huntington will also be holding in-person Early Voting hours, but since Town Hall is still technically closed, residents  will need to make appointments, preferably by email to townclerk@huntingtonma.us during the required hours and then actually vote in their vehicles.

The Chester Town Hall will be open for early voting in person for the Sept. 1 State Primary, on the following days and times: Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Aug. 23, 2 to 4 p.m.; Aug. 24, 3 to 5 p.m.; Aug. 25, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.;  Aug. 26, 1 to 3 p.m.; Aug. 27, 1 to 3 p.m.; and Aug. 28, 3 to 5 p.m.

Dalesandro said Chester is looking for poll workers for the Sept. 1, 2020 Primary and the Nov. 3, 2020 Presidential Election, and interested residents should email her at rdalesandro@townofchester.net. She said on the day of the elections, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and asked that volunteers indicate what hours they are willing to work, and include their phone numbers in the email.

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