Published October 29, 2020

Town Clerk Barbara Stats, Chief of Police Michael P. Murphy, and Town Administrator Michael P. Gilleberto issued the following statement regarding the 2020 State and Presidential election Tuesday afternoon:

The 2020 State and Presidential Election has presented unique challenges for the town’s election officials and for voters.

The town takes election and voter safety and security very seriously, and we have been working together over the past several weeks to provide safe access for all voters and to preserve the integrity of each vote.  Some steps that we have taken include additional video surveillance during early and mail-in voting, monitoring of video by the North Reading Police Department, increased police patrols at Town Hall, and frequent emptying of the ballot drop-off box.

Pursuant to guidance from the Secretary of the Commonwealth and to minimize the risk of vandalism of ballots, the ballot drop-off box at Town Hall will be locked on Halloween afternoon (Saturday, October 31) at 1 p.m. and will be unlocked at 9 a.m. on Sunday, November 1.

For those who have not yet voted:

• The deadline to request a mail-in application was 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.

• Early Voting continues at Town Hall on Thursday, Oct. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and on Friday, Oct. 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Election Day is Tuesday, November 3 and the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For those who choose to vote on Election Day, there will be some changes in the entrance/exit at St. Theresa’s Church. All vehicles will be directed around the rear of the building to the east side parking lot, and voter parking and entrance will only be through the east entrance.   

There will be designated handicapped-accessible parking spots at the east entrance.  The west side and rear doors to the hall will be for emergency exit only. This will allow for voters to stand in a single line indoors while maintaining social distancing protocols.  Monitors will be available to assist voters once inside the building.

For more information, visit the town website at www.northreadingma.gov.

We will continue to remain vigilant until every vote is counted, and ask voters to do the same. If you see or hear something suspicious regarding the election in North Reading, please call the North Reading Police Department at 978-664-3131. Thank you to all voters for their flexibility and understanding.