Voter Registration Deadline Feb. 10
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Wednesday, Feb. 10, is the deadline to register to vote in order to participate in the Massachusetts Presidential Primary on March 1st. You are eligible to vote in an election if you are a United States citizen and will turn 18 by election day, but you must register by the deadline.
Feb. 10th is also the deadline for registered voters who wish to change their party enrollment either to another party or to "unenrolled," which is commonly referred to as "independent." Only these voters will be able to choose which party's ballot they wish to use.
While voter registration changes may be done at any time, the Town Clerk's Office will be open extra hours, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., on the Feb. 10th deadline for voters who wish to change their party registration status or for persons wishing to register for the first time.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Absentee Ballots for the Tues., March 1, 2016 Presidential Preference Primary are available at Town Clerk's Office. Mon., Feb. 29 at Noon is the last day and hour to request an absentee ballot. All Absentee Ballots must be received by Town Clerk by election day in order to be counted.
NEW RULES FOR PARTY DESIGNATIONS AND BALLOT CHOICE
There are four political parties in Mass. When you receive your town census, the census form will indicate the party in which you are currently enrolled. If you are enrolled in one of these political parties, you will find letter codes next to your name in column marked "PARTY." You will be eligible to vote only in that party's primary. For example, a Democrat cannot take a Republican ballot, and a Republican cannot take a Democratic one.
Voters not enrolled in a party (commonly known as "Independent") will be listed with party code "U" ("Unenrolled") in the PARTY column.
[NOTE: "Independent" should not be confused with the United Independent Party (UIP); that party that will have ballots available at the Primary but with no candidates printed on them. Voters registered in UIP, like others enrolled under party designation, will NOT be eligible to take another party's ballot.]
HOW TO CHANGE PARTY ENROLLMENT
Check with the Town Clerk if you are not sure of your party enrollment. If you wish to change party enrollment for the Presidential Primary, you must do so on or before Feb. 10. You may change your party enrollment by completing a new voter registration form in person, by mail, or online at www.RegisterToVoteMA.com.
INFORMATION AVAILABLE
Sample ballots and information on obtaining an absentee ballot are available at the Town Clerk's office at 978-448-1100, or on the town website: www.townofgroton.org.
