Early Voting Begins In Massachusetts For Super Tuesday Presidential Primary
BOSTON (CBS) – The presidential primary in Massachusetts isn't until March 3, but you can cast your ballot this week.
Early voting in Massachusetts began Monday. Hours will vary by city and town. It's the first time the Commonwealth has had early voting in a presidential primary.
Secretary of State Bill Galvin said each community must have five days of early voting, Monday through Friday.
"Early voting will conclude on Friday, which will allow us to reconcile the voting lists to make sure that people who voted early will not be on the list for next Tuesday," he told reporters.
Once you vote early, you can't take it back and withdraw your ballot, so if you have doubts about your choice, wait until Super Tuesday.
"But if you know what you want to do and you've decided what you want to do, early voting is an excellent opportunity for you to get it in, not to worry about the weather, not to worry about a crowd, not to worry about a schedule," Galvin said.
He added that early voting in the last two general elections went well and the response was positive.
"A lot could happen within a week," early voter Kim Slater said in Newton. "I don't feel like much could happen to change my mind, so I feel really good about voting today."
Maya Morris voted Monday morning in Brookline out of necessity, because she won't be around on primary day.
"Definitely super glad, it was convenient for me, having to vote and wanting to vote in the first place and then having the option to do it early, definitely benefited me and my family," she told WBZ-TV.
"I'm very glad they're doing it. I think it definitely will increase participation which is always great for our democracy," said Timothy MacDonald, another early voter.
Among the steady stream of voters at Newton City Hall was Rep. Joe Kennedy. "Trying to make sure that people have access to a ballot is critically important," Kennedy said.
To find your community's early voting times, dates and locations, visit sec.state.ma.us/EarlyVotingWeb/EarlyVotingSearch.aspx
You can also send in your ballot in the mail. To apply, click here.
