Overview
- State officials say more than 400,000 early ballots have already been returned and that over 100,000 mailed ballots sent to voters remain unreturned, creating a risk they will not arrive in time for the primary.
- Early in-person voting ends on Friday, Aug. 28, and Secretary Bill Galvin reminded voters that all ballots must be in the possession of local election officials by 8 p.m. on Primary Day, Sept. 1.
- Galvin urged voters not to put outstanding ballots in the mail and recommended using official drop boxes, delivering ballots to city and town halls, or voting in person to guarantee they are counted.
- Officials reported limited administrative errors, including incidents at the Condon School where some voters received wrong-district ballots, and said those problems are being reviewed but are not expected to change outcomes.
- The Department of Justice will observe polling places in Boston and New Bedford, and higher early mail voting this year could affect turnout patterns and extend post-election counting in close races.