State-authorized advance processing of early voting, mail ballots to take place Sunday, November 1st, 2020
Office of the Town Clerk
1 Main Street
Ayer, Massachusetts 01432
clerk@ayer.ma.us
978-772-8215
State-authorized advance processing of early voting, mail ballots to take place Sunday, November 1st, 2020
Due to the large number of ballots for the Tuesday, November 3rd State and Presidential Election being requested and received through the Vote-by-Mail, Absentee, and in-person Early Voting period, the Commonwealth is allowing Town Clerks to “advance process” ballots received prior to Election Day.
On Sunday, November 1st at, at 9 a.m., the Town Clerk will hold the “advance removal” of ballots, during which election workers will use a letter opener and open the envelopes received prior to Election Day and place them in alphabetical order in boxes. No ballots will be taken out of envelopes or processed.
The ballots will be stored in the vault until Election Day. At this time, the ballots will be deposited into the Image cast Tabulation machine and the results (tally) of these ballots will not be processed until after 8 p.m. on Election Day (Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020).
Citizens are welcome to observe the advance processing of ballots on November 1st; all work will be completed in the Select Board Meeting Room on the 1st floor of Town Hall. An observation area will be available. Please understand that we will need to limit the number of observers due to space considerations and to allow for adequate social distancing.
No other Town business may be conducted during this time.