Voter Registration Deadline for Presidential Primary is Today

Wrentham residents wanting to exercise their civic right and participate in the presidential primary on March 6 must be registered to vote in town by today’s Feb. 15 deadline.

The Wrentham town clerk will be holding a voter registration event today in the from 8am to 4pm and the lobby from 4pm to 8pm.

With the Massachusetts Presidential Primary scheduled for March 6 and the Town Election set for April 2, it will surely be a busy time for Wrentham residents.

Below are some helpful tips for voting in Wrentham:

How to Register to Vote

Who may register?

• Only a person who is:
• A U.S. citizen, and
• A resident of Massachusetts, and
• 18 years old on or before election day, and
• not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction

How can I register to vote?

By mail:  Mail in registration forms are widely available. To obtain a mail in registration form please call 1-800-462-VOTE and a form will be sent to you. Mail the completed form to your local city or town hall along with proper ID. You should receive an acknowledgement notice in two to three weeks.  If you do not, please contact your local election office to verify your voting status.

In Person: Go to any registration location, such as your city or town hall, and complete an affidavit of registration, which must be answered truthfully under the penalty of perjury.  The questions on the affidavit will include your name, residence and date of birth.

At the Registry of Motor Vehicles:  While receiving or renewing a drivers license.  Keep your motor voter receipt until you receive confirmation from your local election official.  If you do not receive any confirmation, please contract your local election office to verify your voting status.

What must I do if I’ve changed my address since I registered? If you have moved, you must register again.

How to Vote by an Absentee Ballot

You may vote by absentee ballot if you: will be absent from your city or town on election day, and/or have a physical disability that prevents your voting at the polling place and/orcannot vote at the voting polls due to religious beliefs 

Applying for an absentee ballot: All applications for absentee ballots must be made in writing.  You must apply for an absentee ballot from your city or town clerk or election commission no later than noon of the day before the election.  Applications may be mailed or hand delivered and you may use any form of written communication or the official application form. A family member of a person qualified to vote by absentee ballot may apply in the same manner for you. To be counted, a completed ballot must be received by the time the polls close on election day.

If you are not able to write, the person assisting you must sign your name as well as their name, address and telephone number.  Follow the directions on the brown envelope very carefully.

Requesting to vote by absentee ballot: A ballot will be sent to any address you specify-including your own home.  Be sure to apply early. Include on the application:

• your name and address as registered,
• ward and precinct, if you know them,
• the precise address where the ballot should be sent,
• the party ballot you wish in a primary, and,
• your own signature

Requesting to vote in person: If you prefer, you may request to vote in person before election day.  The application for your ballot must be made no later than noon of the day before the election.  A voter may apply for an absentee ballot and then voter over-the-counter during the same visit.

What if I am permanently disabled? If you are permanently physically disabled and cannot cast your vote at the polling place, you may file a letter from your physician with your Town Clerk stating that you are permanently unable to cast your vote at the polling place because of physical disability.  A completed application for an absentee ballot for you to sign and return will be mailed to you at the beginning of every year.

Other Helpful Hints

Here are a few things that will help you when you go to the polls, and protect your right to vote.

1. Be sure to answer your annual census/voter confirmation form. That form is sent out annually by the Town Clerk to confirm that you are still at your same residence. This keeps your voter status up to date.
2. If you change your residential address OR mailing address within town, please make sure that you notify the Town Clerk’s office so that your voting record will be up-to-date.
3. If you move out of town to a new community, you need to register to vote in that community.  When you register to vote, your new Town Clerk will notify your prior Town Clerk that you have registered elsewhere.
4. You can only be a registered voter in one place. That should be the town or city that you consider to be your permanent residence; and where you spend the majority of your time, and from where you file your income taxes.
5. If you register to vote or change your address with the Registry of Motor Vehicles (or a social service agency), please keep the receipt with you and take it with you to the polls the first time you vote after such a change.
6. If you have any questions at any time about the voting process, your registration, or the times of elections in your community, please feel free to contact the Town Clerk for assistance.
7. Be an informed voter, and exercise your right to vote.