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City of Boston issues State Primary reminders

All in-person polling locations will be operated in accordance with public health guidelines

The City of Boston Election Department is reminding residents that Tuesday, September 1, 2020 is the State Primary election. The Primary includes the following races: Senator in Congress, Representative in Congress, Governor's Councillors, Senator in General Court, Representative in General Court, and Register of Probate. On Election Day, polling locations in Boston will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Individuals are encouraged to confirm their polling location for Election Day here.

Printed ballots will be available in English and Spanish, English and Chinese, and English and Vietnamese. For this year's State Primary, there are 420,345 registered voters in Boston. The Election Department has recruited and trained more than 1,800 poll workers to work at polling locations across the City that house 255 voting precincts. There are over 300 poll workers who are able to provide assistance in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean, Russian, and Portuguese. All poll workers have been trained on following the COVID-19 safety protocols.

Due to COVID-19, health and safety protocols on Election Day will be implemented at each polling location. All poll workers will receive face shields, face masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes, disinfectant spray and hand sanitizer. Cleaning will take place at each site every two to three hours. Voters waiting in line will be instructed to stand six feet away from others and wear a face covering. 

vote safe

Voters who requested vote-by-mail ballots or absentee ballots must have their signed ballot returned to the Boston Election Department by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday September 1, 2020 in order to be counted. Voters can track the status of their vote-by-mail ballots here. Vote-by-mail ballots can also be returned to the Election Department by dropping it off at the dropbox located on the third floor of Boston City Hall (City Hall Plaza entrance) between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, August 31 and between 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1. If a voter brings a vote-by-mail ballot to their polling location, they will be provided with the opportunity to cast their vote in person. A poll worker will assist them in ensuring that their mail-in ballot is discarded before casting the in-person vote. 

Voters who have changed their mind about voting by mail and their ballot has not been received by the Election Department, may vote in-person at their designated polling location. Voters can find their polling location for Election Day here.

Additionally, in-person absentee voting is available until August 31, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. at the Election Department in City Hall. To qualify to vote absentee, registered voters must be absent from the City on Election Day, must have a religious belief which prevents them from going inside of a polling location, or have a physical disability which prevents them from going to a polling location. The application to request an absentee ballot can be completed in person at the Election Department in City Hall. Learn more about applying here

Voters are reminded there are 20 precinct polling location changes this election cycle:

WARD/PRECINCT

PREVIOUS LOCATION

NEW LOCATION

Ward 1, Precinct 15 and Ward 13, Precinct 3

Harbor Point Technology Center

15 Harbor Point Blvd

Dorchester, MA 02125

Corcoran Jennison Mullins Community Building

270 Mt Vernon St

Dorchester, MA 02125

Ward 4, Precincts 6 and 7

Morville House 

100 Norway St

Boston, MA 02115

Northeastern University, Matthew's Arena

238 St Botolph St

Boston, MA 02115

Ward 4, Precincts 5 and 8

Symphony Plaza East and West

334 Massachusetts Ave

Boston, MA 02115

Northeastern University, Matthew's Arena

238 St Botolph St

Boston, MA 02115

Ward 7, Precincts 1 and 2

BCYF Curley Recreation Center

1663 Columbia Rd

Boston, MA 02127

Joseph P. Tynan School

650 E 4th St

Boston, MA 02127

Ward 9, Precinct 5

Marcus Garvey Gardens

44 John Eliot Sq

Boston, MA 02119

BCYF Shelburne Center

2730 Washington St

Boston, MA 02119

Ward 11, Precinct 4

Amory Street Apartments

125 Amory St

Boston, MA 02119

Word of Life Tabernacle Church

120 Amory St

Boston, MA 02119

Ward 13, Precincts 1 and 2

Cardinal Medeiros Apartments

11 Woodcliff St

Boston, MA 02125

John Winthrop Street Elementary School

35 Brookford St

Boston, MA 02125

Ward 13, Precincts 7 and 8

Catherine Clark Apartments

915 Dorchester Ave

Dorchester, MA 02125

Saint Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy- Columbia Campus

790 Columbia Rd

Dorchester, MA 02125

Ward 17, Precincts 1 and 3

Roxbury Prep Lucy Stone Campus

22 Regina Rd

Boston, MA 02124

Codman Square Tech Center

450 Washington St

Boston, MA 02124

Ward 18, Precincts 12 and 19

Boston Trinity Academy

17 Hale St

Hyde Park, MA 02136

Hyde Park Municipal Building

1179 River St

Hyde Park, MA 02136

Ward 19, Precincts 10 and 13

BCYF Roslindale Community Center

6 Cummins Hwy

Boston, MA 02131

Washington Irving School

105 Cummins Hwy

Roslindale, MA 02131

Additionally, there are five voter entrance changes to polling locations this cycle:

WARD/PRECINCT

LOCATION

VOTER ENTRANCE

Ward 5, Precinct 1

41 Berkeley St

Boston, MA 02116

Berkeley Street side of the building

Ward 5, Precinct 3

24 Beacon St

Boston, MA 02133

Bowdoin Street through Ashburton Park

Ward 5, Precincts 7 and 8

700 Boylston St

Boston, MA 02116

Dartmouth Street side of the building

Ward 11, Precinct 2

BCYF Shelburne Center

2730 Washington St

Boston, MA 02119

Moved from the community room to the Gymnasium. Enter through the parking lot on Dale Street

Ward 18, Precinct 3

Mattahunt Elementary School

100 Hebron Street

Mattapan, MA 02126  

Moved from the small gymnasium in the Community Center Building to the Cafeteria in the School 

Media guidelines

Members of the media are reminded that certain rules must be followed in order to ensure a smooth voting process for voters. 

  • Interviews of voters are not allowed inside polling locations and must be done at least 150 feet away.

  • Interviews with election officers at the polling locations are not allowed. Interview requests for the Election Department should be directed through the Press Office at (617) 635-4461.

  • Photos and b-roll shots will be allowed under the supervision of each polling location's warden.

  • Photographers are reminded that zooming in on voter ballots and over-the-shoulder shots will not be allowed. Please respect every voter's right to a private ballot.

  • The City of Boston Election Department will also be available for b-roll shots starting at 7:30 a.m.

  • Unofficial results will be posted online at www.boston.gov after the polls close at 8:00 p.m.

  • Updates will be provided periodically via our Facebook and Twitter account: @BostonElections

  • Please do not call the Election Department for results. You will only be referred to the website.

For more information about the State Primary, please visit boston.gov/elections or contact the Boston Election Department 617-635-8683 or Election@boston.gov.

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