Mass. Secretary Of State: Don't Forget Your Absentee Ballots

BOSTON (CBS) -- Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin says that, since the state's primary is on the first of the month, it could catch some voters by surprise.

He's concerned that people voting with absentee ballots may not give themselves enough time before next Tuesday's primary.

"As a practical matter, if you were going to try to mail it back and forth, you need some time for the local officials to mail it out to you, for you to vote and then mail it back," said Galvin.

That process could take a week--and the primary is just one week away.

"It's coming up quickly, so we want to make sure that if people do choose to vote absentee or are unavailable, that they get the opportunity to make sure their vote gets in," said Galvin.

Galvin says there's another alternative: calling your local clerk or election official to make an appointment to vote over-the-counter.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports