SPRINGFIELD — Election Day can be a hectic time for voters. While the experience at most polling places in Springfield is efficient, people may struggle to make time to vote. Others might be hesitant to enter a busy polling location during flu season. Whatever the reason, those who may not want to cast their ballot in-person on Election Day can still exercise the right to vote through early voting.
Since 2016, all municipalities in Massachusetts have allowed early voting, either in person or by mail. Data from the secretary of the commonwealth’s office showed that during the last presidential election, in 2020, 41.7% of ballots were submitted by mail and 23.1% of voters used in-person early voting, while 35.2% voted in person on Election Day.
The fact that the 2020 election was conducted during the height of the coronavirus pandemic may account for the high percentage of people who chose to avoid busy polling places. The numbers were much different two years later. That year, 37.3% of voters chose the mail-in option, just 7.5% voted early in person and 55.2% chose to come out to the polls on Election Day.
So far, this year, Springfield’s early voting and vote by mail numbers are significantly lower than in the last presidential election. “We currently have 14,988 registered voters who have requested vote by mail ballots, said City Clerk and Election Commissioner Gladys Oyolo-Lopez. “Additionally, 109 overseas and accessible voters have cast ballots electronically. Given the current early votes, I don’t think we will reach the 26,000 early votes from 2020 and foresee that we will have more voters showing up at the polls in November.”
There are two full weeks of early voting ahead of the general election on Nov. 5. People who vote early in person can do so at one of three locations, seven days per week, from Oct. 19 to Nov. 1.
To vote by mail, registered voters must request a ballot by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 at tinyurl.com/4ftde5mz or by contacting the Springfield Elections Office. The application can be submitted online at elections@springfieldcityhall.com, by phone at 413-787-6186 or by mail at Springfield Board of Elections, 36 Court Street, room 8, Springfield, MA 01103.
Once a ballot is received, completed and signed, return it to the Elections Office by mail, in-person or in the gray drop box at the rear of City Hall, 36 Court St. The ballot drop box is locked and under 24-hour video surveillance.
As Oyolo-Lopez explained during primary voting in August, security during early voting is taken just as seriously as it is on Election Day. “Like all cities and towns in Massachusetts, we adhere to the state and federal election laws,” Oyolo-Lopez said in an email. “Ballots are delivered in a secure carrier and election staff deliver vote by mail ballots in teams of two. All poll workers attend a mandatory training and are sworn in. We deploy the election commissioners to monitor the polling locations citywide. Additionally, a police officer is stationed at each polling site.”
The schedule for in-person early voting follows:
City Hall, 36 Court St., Room 8
- Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 19 and 20, 9 a.m. 5 p.m.
- Monday to Wednesday, Oct. 21-23, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 24, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 25, 8:30 a.m.to 4 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26 and 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday to Wednesday, Oct. 28-30, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 31, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Greenleaf Community Center, 1187 ½ Parker St.
- Saturday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Raymond Jordan Senior Center, 1476 Roosevelt Ave.
- Tuesday, Oct. 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
People can register to vote up until 10 days before the election, or Oct. 25. To be eligible to vote in Springfield, a person must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a resident of the city and not currently incarcerated due to a felony conviction.
For more information on voting in Springfield, visit springfield-ma.gov/elections.
