2020 Fall Elections Voter Options Guide

On July 6th the Governor signed new legislation - An Act relative to voting options in response to COVID.  This legislation outlines 3 options for voting in the fall 2020 elections: Vote on Election Day, Vote by Mail or Vote Early In Person.

Selection of Ballot Types - Primary Election Only


In a primary election, a voter who is NOT registered in a political party (Unenrolled or commonly known as Independent) must specify the party ballot type of choice on the application to vote by mail or in person voting (early or on election day).  We are unable to process applications for Unenrolled / Independent voters who do not select a party ballot type on their application.  Unenrolled / Independent voters who select a party ballot type do not become registered in that party - they remain Unenrolled / Independent voters.   Voters who are registered in one of the 4 political parties (Democrat, Republican, Green-Rainbow, Libertarian) MUST take that party ballot and are not given a choice of ballot type - verify your party enrollment or change your party enrollment prior to the deadline to register to vote and before applying for a mail in ballot.

Vote on Election Day

• Wear a Face Covering
• Bring a Pen – Blue, Black ink or Paper Mate Flair (if you don’t want to borrow one)
• Bring a Clip Board or Book to mark your ballot on (if you don’t want to use a Voting booth)
• Bring an ID – in some cases voters will be required to show an ID.   
• Don’t touch your face while at the polling location
• Maintain Social Distancing – keep 6’ away from anyone not from your household
• Keep your ballot dry and free from hand sanitizers – to avoid tabulator issues 

Vote by Mail

All registered voters qualify to vote by mail in the fall 2020 elections.  Application post cards will be mailed to ALL registered voters, at their mailing address, who have not already applied to receive a vote by mail ballot as follows: 

APPLY EARLY - to allow ample time for processing your application and for the postal services to deliver your ballot to you.  If you are concerned about applying too early - please note that voters can hold on to their ballot and return it during the week prior to the election.  Voters who receive a vote by mail ballot but do not return it prior to election day may appear to vote in person on election day to cast a ballot.  Any voter that has returned a vote by mail ballot (or voted early in person) cannot vote on Election Day.

Vote by Mail postcards can be returned by Mail (postage is pre-paid on the post card mailed to you). Paper Vote by Mail applications can be scanned & emailed to lbowes@quincyma.gov.

Track Your Application and Ballot

Please note that we anticipate a large volume of applications (there are over 60,000 voters in Quincy) and request you allow at least 2 weeks before checking the status of your application and allow a minimum of 10 days to receive your ballot from the status date of mailing.  Please DO NOT contact the Clerk's Office to check on your status until the recommended amount of time listed above has passed. Inquiries should be sent to  lbowes@quincyma.gov.

Return of Vote by Mail Ballots

Mailed Ballots include a postage pre-paid return ballot envelope that is addressed to the City Clerk's Office.  You may return your ballot by mail (please see deadlines below). Ballots can NOT be returned to the polling location on Election Day - they must be returned to the City Clerk’s Office for processing before they are delivered by City Clerk’s staff to the polls to be cast on Election Day.   Voters who receive a vote by mail ballot but do not return it prior to Election Day may appear to vote in person and cast a ballot on Election Day.  Any voter that has returned a vote by mail ballot (or voted early in person) is not permitted to appear to vote in person on Election Day. 

Deadlines for ballots to be returned and counted 

• November Election - 
  Ballots returned in the drop box must be received by 8 PM on November 3rd.    
  Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by November 3rd AND received by the City Clerk by 5 PM on November 6th.  

Vote Early in Person

Early Voting in person will be available for the fall 2020 elections.  An application is not required to vote early in person...just show up and vote!  

Presidential Election Early Voting in Person
Period: October 17 - October 30
Location: City Hall - City Council Chamber - 1305 Hancock St
Weekends: North Quincy High School - Gymnasium

Know Before You Go to Vote

Educated voters will reduce the amount of time necessary in the voting booths and reduce lines and crowding while voting. 

Unenrolled / Independent voters will need to choose which primary ballot type they want to vote on).  Voters who are registered in a particular party (Democrat, Republican, Green-Rainbow, Libertarian) MUST take that party ballot type.  To verify your party enrollment, please click here.  To change your party enrollment, please click here. 

Early Voting FAQ

• If I applied for a vote by mail ballot can I appear to vote in person at an early voting site or at the polls on Election Day? 
  • YES - If your vote by mail ballot has not been received back to the City Clerk’s Office you may still appear to vote in person at the polls on Election Day.  These voters will be required to complete additional paperwork and will need to show an ID.  Should your mail in ballot be received after you voted early in person or at the polls on Election Day that ballot will be rejected and will not be counted 
  • NO - If a vote by mail ballot has already been received back by the City Clerk’s Office. A returned vote by mail ballot is considered cast and you will not be eligible to vote by mail, early in person or in person at the polls on Election Day. 
• If I vote early in person can I appear to vote in person at the polls on Election Day? 
  • NO - If you appeared to vote early in person your ballot will be considered cast and you will not be eligible to vote by mail, or in person at the polls on Election Day.  Voting in Person at the Polls after submitting an early ballot is prohibited as outlined in 950 CMR 4 7.19. 
• When & how is an early voter's ballot cast? 
  • All vote by mail and early voting in person ballots will be opened and inserted into a tabulator before election day or fed through the tabulators at the polls on election day.  These ballots will be kept secured, locked, and unexamined until the polls are closed on Election Day. 
  • More information on how Quincy intends to process these ballots will be available after the Secretary of State provides regulations on processing ballots before Election day. 

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Electioneering During Early Voting in Person

The following regulation for the period designated for in-person absentee voting and the State’s Early Voting Period: 
 
No poster, card, handbill, placard, picture or circular intended to influence the action of the voter, other than those expressly authorized by G.L. c. 54, § 65, shall be posted, exhibited, circulated or distributed in the City Clerk’s office, in the building where the City Clerk’s office is located, on the walls thereof, on the premises at City Hall 1305 Hancock Street and NHQS 316 Hancock St or shall not stand within one hundred and fifty feet (150’) of the building entrance door to said City offices/buildings.