Published in the October 24, 2016 edition.
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD – Early voting starts today in Massachusetts and Town Clerk Betsy Sheeran is one of only a few city and town clerks in the Commonwealth to receive a state award for her work in facilitating the process of Early Voting.
State Representatives Donald Wong and Paul Brodeur were in town on Friday along with State Senator Jason Lewis to present the award to Sheeran on behalf of the state’s Election Modernization Commission. The Silver Medal Award was presented to Sheeran and the Town of Wakefield “for providing substantial Early Voting opportunities for its citizens.”
Sheeran has used every means at her disposal to publicize and explain early voting, including newspaper stories, the town’s website, social media and other means. There were even mobile digital sign trailers placed on main roads around town displaying the dates of early voting.
Sheeran said that she has worked to implement a plan for early voting that will work in as logical and efficient a manner as possible.
“A plan is a great thing to have and I appreciate being acknowledged for it,” Sheeran said, “but I need a cooperative and efficient staff to help me implement the plan and in Rose Morgan and Denise Oates I have those people.”
She expects things to go smoothly.
“I’ve already met with the precinct wardens on Friday,” Sheeran said. “We have everything lined up and we have all of the voting books ready to go.”
Being the town’s first foray into early voting, Sheeran acknowledges that there could be a few wrinkles along the way, so she has brought in the registrars to help during the day.
“So there will be six or seven of us who can troubleshoot any situation immediately,” Sheeran said.
Local voters will be able to cast their ballots at the Town Clerk’s Office in Town Hall during the early voting period starting today and ending on Friday, Nov. 4.
The law states that Early Voting “shall be conducted within the usual business hours of each local election official.” However, a city or town may choose to provide for additional Early Voting hours beyond what is required, including weekend hours.
Sheeran indicated that in Wakefield Early Voting will be available during the Town Clerk’s regular business hours: Monday to Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In 2014, Massachusetts passed an election reform law allowing Early Voting every two years in the November election. At the present time, early voting will not apply to municipal elections.
According to the text of the law, “Qualified voters may vote early in person at the designated Early Voting location or by mail. A voter may only vote early by mail or at an Early Voting location for the city or town in which he or she is registered to vote.”
The state law provides that any qualified voter wanting to vote early may file with his or her local election official an application for an early voting ballot. If the voter would like the early voting ballot sent by mail, he or she must so indicate on the application.
When an early voting application is filed in person, the election official will give the voter the appropriate early voting ballot and any accompanying papers. Early voting locations must have a space available for voters to mark their ballots in private. After marking his or her ballot, each early voter will enclose it in the envelope provided, execute the affidavit contained thereon and seal the envelope before returning it to the election official.
Upon receiving an application for an early voting ballot, the election official will place the designation “EV” next to that voter’s name on the official voting lists.
While early voting means some extra work for her staff, Sheeran said that she supports the concept.
“We have to be accommodating to the voter and I think early voting does that,” Sheeran said. “That’s what this office is here for.”
