What you need to know about voting in the Mass. presidential primary March 5
Voters in Worcester and other communities in Massachusetts will go to the polls March 5 for the presidential primary.
For those who want to have their say sooner, in-person early voting will take place from Saturday to March 1 at the Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square. In early voting, voters do not have to use their assigned polling places.
The polls at the library will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and open late until 7 p.m. Feb. 27 and Feb. 29.
Here is what to know about the 2024 election year in Massachusetts:
Deadline to register to vote for presidential primaries: Saturday
Deadline to apply to vote by mail for presidential primaries: Tuesday
Presidential primary: March 5. Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters in the 6th Worcester District in the House of Representatives will also vote March 5 in a special election to replace Peter Durant, a Republican who was elected to the state Senate last year, replacing Democrat Anne Gobi who left for a job in Gov. Maura T. Healey's administration. Republican John Marsi, a Dudley selectman, is in line to capture the seat, with no other candidates on the ballot. Marsi defeated Southbridge Councilor David Adams in the primary.
The district covers all of Dudley and Southbridge, plus Precincts 1, 2, 3 and 4A in Charlton and Precinct 1 in Spencer.
Absentee voting and vote by mail
Voters can apply by mail, email or fax through their local election office and are encouraged to do so at least two weeks before Election Day to allow for mailing times.
"Voting by mail has become extremely popular among Massachusetts voters over the last few years,” Secretary William Galvin said earlier this month. “With more than half a million applications submitted in the first month of 2024, I think we can expect a large number of mail-in ballots to be cast in all three statewide elections this year.”
Last month, registered voters across the state should have received an application to vote by mail. As long as voters are registered to vote, they don’t need an excuse to vote by mail. Voters can also apply online. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Feb. 27. Voters can also use the same applications to apply for mail-in ballots for both the Sept. 3 state primary and Nov. 5 state election.
Ballots can be mailed to Worcester Election Commission, 455 Main St., Room 208, Worcester, MA 01608, or delivered to City Hall, specific drop boxes at early voting locations or specific drop boxes at each Worcester fire station.
Voters planning to vote with an absentee ballot must meet certain criteria, including not being in their city or town primary day; religious beliefs preventing them from voting in person; or having a disability that prevents them from voting at a polling place.
The deadline to return absentee and mail-in ballots is March 5, by the time polls close. Voters can return it using the provided envelope, at their local election office or at a ballot drop box.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: What you need to know about voting in the Mass. presidential primary March 5
