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BOSTON - Saturday,
September 11, 2021 - The City of Boston Election Department is reminding residents
that Tuesday, September 14, 2021 is the Preliminary Municipal Election. The
Preliminary Election includes eight candidates for the Office of Mayor, 17
candidates for the Office of City Councillor at-Large and the following
City Council Districts: District 4, District 6, District 7, District 9. The
remaining districts are not required to have a preliminary election as
there are already only one or two candidates running.
The purpose of the
Preliminary Municipal Election is to narrow the field of candidates whose
names will appear on the official ballot at the Municipal Election on
November 2. The Office of Mayor will be narrowed from eight candidates to
two candidates. The Office of At-Large City Councillor will be narrowed
from 17 candidates to eight candidates, and the Office of District City
Councillor will be narrowed to two candidates.
On Election Day,
polling locations in Boston will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Voters are encouraged to confirm their polling location for Election Day here.
Polling Location
Updates
There are nine
precinct polling location updates in the neighborhoods of East Boston,
Fenway, Roxbury and Dorchester. The list can be downloaded from the Boston
Election Department’s website: Polling Location Changes.
East Boston: Ward 1,
Precinct 14
New Location:
Overlook Terrace 40 Vallar Rd, East Boston
Fenway: Ward 4
Precinct 5
New Location:
Symphony Plaza East, 334 Massachusetts Ave., Boston
Fenway: Ward 4
Precinct 8
New Location:
Symphony Plaza West, 333 Massachusetts Ave., Boston
Roxbury: Ward 9
Precinct 5
New Location: Marcus
Garvey Gardens, 44 John Eliot Square, Roxbury
Dorchester: Ward 13
Precincts 7 and 8
New Location:
Catherine Clark Apartments, 915 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
Dorchester: Ward 16,
Precinct 2
New Location: Richard
J. Murphy School, Worrell St. Dorchester
Dorchester: Ward 16,
Precinct 8 and Precinct 9
New Location: Adams
Street Branch Library, 690 Adams St. Dorchester
Vote-By-Mail &
Absentee Ballots
Voters who requested
vote-by-mail ballots or absentee ballots must have their signed ballot
returned to the Boston Election Department by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday,
September 14, 2021 in order to be counted. Voters can track the status of
their vote-by-mail ballots here. Vote-by-mail ballots can also be returned to the Election
Department by dropping it off at any of the 20 drop boxes located around the City. All drop boxes
will be locked promptly at 8 p.m. on Election Day. The Boston Election
Department is advising voters to use one of the 20 drop boxes, as a
vote-by-mail ballot sent by USPS has a possibility of reaching the Boston
Election Department after the deadline. Voters returning their ballot by
U.S. Mail should affix two first class postage stamps to the white envelope
that contains the ballot package.
If a voter brings a
vote-by-mail ballot to their polling location, they will be provided with
the opportunity to cast their vote in person. A poll worker will assist
them in ensuring that their vote-by-mail ballot is discarded before casting
the in-person vote.
Voters who have
changed their mind about voting by mail and their ballot has not been
received by the Election Department, may vote in-person at their designated
polling location. Voters can find their polling location for Election Day here.
In-person absentee
voting is available until September 13, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at the Election
Department in Boston City Hall. To qualify to vote absentee, voters must be
absent from the City on Election Day, must have a religious belief
commitment which prevents them from going inside of a polling location, or
have a physical disability which prevents them from going to a polling
location. The application to request an absentee ballot can be completed
in- person at the Election Department in City Hall. Learn more about
applying here.
Accessibility
All polling
locations are equipped with an Automark Voter Assistance Terminal, an
electronic ballot marker designed for use by people who are unable to mark
a ballot due to physical impairments or language barriers. Accessible
features include a touch screen with zoom and contrast feature, multiple
language translations, a keypad marked with Braille, puff-sip
interface as well as an audio ballot feature.
Printed ballots will
be available in English and Spanish, English and Chinese, and English and
Vietnamese. For this year's Preliminary Municipal Election there are
437,647 registered voters in Boston. The Election Department has recruited
and trained more than 1,800 poll workers to work at polling locations
across the City that house 255 voting precincts. There are over 300 poll
workers who are able to provide assistance in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese,
Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean, Russian, and Portuguese. All poll workers
have been trained on following the COVID-19 safety protocols.
Due to COVID-19, the
Election Department has implemented health and safety protocols for
in-person voting during the early voting period and on Election Day. All
poll workers will receive face masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes,
disinfectant spray and hand sanitizer. Cleaning will take place at each
site every three to four hours. Voters waiting in line will be instructed
to stand six feet away from others and wear a face covering. More
information about COVID-19 safety at the polls can be found here.
Media guidelines
Members of the media
are reminded that certain rules must be followed in order to ensure a
smooth voting process.
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Interviews
of voters are not allowed inside polling locations and must be done at
least 150 feet away.
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Interviews
with election officers at the polling locations are not allowed. Interview
requests for the Election Department should be directed through the Press
Office at (617) 635-4461.
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Photos
and b-roll shots will be allowed under the supervision of each polling
location's warden.
·
Photographers
are reminded that zooming in on voter ballots and over-the-shoulder shots
will not be allowed. Please respect every voter's right to a private
ballot.
·
The
City of Boston Election Department will also be available for b-roll shots
starting at 7:30 a.m.
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Unofficial
results will be posted online at www.boston.gov
after the polls close at 8:00 p.m.
·
Updates
will be provided periodically via our Facebook and Twitter account:
@BostonElections
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Please
do not call the Election Department for results. You will only be referred
to the website.
For more information
about the Preliminary Municipal Election, please visit boston.gov/elections or contact the Boston Election Department
617-635-8683 or Election@boston.gov.
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