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.
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.
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Interviews of voters are not allowed inside polling locations and must be done at least 150 feet away.
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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.
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Photos and b-roll shots will be allowed under the supervision of each polling location's warden.
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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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