Election 2012: Voter Information from the Town Clerk

The following information was provided by Town Clerk Donna Hooper. 

• Turnout: Anticipate a  very high voter turnout (85-90 percent of 22,219 registered voters]
  • Voters are encouraged to schedule voting during non-peak hours - after the early morning and before the late evening timeframes
  • Traffic and parking demands, always a challenge on voting day, should be lessened since there are no classes on Nov. 6.
  • If lines, voters will be limited to 5 minutes in the booth (950 CMR c.52.03)

• Ballots & Questions: The ballots are lengthy because of the number and length of ballot questions. Information on statewide questions may be found at www.mass.gov/ 
  • Voters should  study the ballot questions before going to the polls on Nov. 6  to expedite voting within the 5-minute limit during high-volume times  
  • Election Officers cannot advise voters on ballot questions
  • Observers: Voting is a public process open to all to witness ‘Observers’ from the major political parties are expected to observe at each polling location. Observers may not interfere with or disrupt the voting process and may not confront voters

• Checking-In to Vote: Voters must loudly and clearly declare their voting residence, stating the street and house number and then their full name by which they are registered to vote. Election Officers will loudly and clearly repeat the information and hand the voter a ballot.   

• Absentee Voting: Voters absent from Lexington on Nov. 6 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. may vote by absentee ballot by sending a written request signed by the voter to the Town Clerk, 1625 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington, MA   02420 or fax to 781-862-2754. All in-country ballots must be received at the Town Clerk’s Office not later than the close of voting on Nov. 6.

Voters needing to vote by absentee ballot are urged not to wait until the last minute.  In-person absentee voting is held at the Town Clerk’s Office Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., until 12 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5.  Possible weather conditions and other interruptions may interfere with in-person voting at the Town Office Building.

To confirm:

• Voter registration status – 781-862-0500 x273 – Town Clerk’s Office
• Voting location – www.wheredoivotema.com/
• Absentee Ballot status:  www.wheredoivotema.com/track/trackmyballot.aspx