Voting Questions and Answers
The Q & A below contains some of the more frequently asked and important questions regarding voting for the upcoming November 6, 2012 election.
Q. When is the presidential election?
A.Tuesday, November 6, 2012. The polls are open from 6:30 AM- 8PM. The election is also referred to as the State Election. Any one in line at the close of the polls will be allowed to vote.
Q. What are the polling places for Wellesley?
Precinct A |
Bates School- Cafeteria 116 Elmwood Road |
Precinct B |
Sprague School- Gym 401 School Street |
Precinct C |
Upham School- Gym 35 Wynnewood Road |
Precinct D |
Schofield School- Gym 27 Cedar Street |
Precinct E |
Fiske School- Gym 45 Hastings Street |
Precinct F |
DANA HALL SCHOOL SHIPLEY CENTER 142 Grove Street |
Precinct G |
Wellesley Free Library- Wakelin Room 530 Washington Street Enter from Rear Parking Lot |
Precinct H |
Sprague School- Gym 401 School Street |
|
|
Q.How do I know if I am registered to vote?
A. If you registered recently you will receive a confirmation notice from the Town Clerk’s office confirming your registration and indicating your polling location. If you are not sure if you received a confirmation notice or would like to confirm your registration, call the Town Clerk’s office at 781-431-1019 ext 2250 and any member of the staff will be able to help you. The Town Clerk’s office is open Monday – Friday 8 AM-5 PM.
Q. If I move and changed my address at the Post Office does my voter registration transfer to my new community or my new address within Wellesley?
A. No. You must re-register to vote in your new community. If you have moved within Wellesley you must still re-register to vote at your new address. The deadline for voter registration or change of addres was October 17, 2012.
Q. How do I find out where I vote?
Q. What are the voting precincts in Wellesley?
A. Wellesley has 8 voting precincts. Maps for each precinct can be found at this link
Q. Why were the voting precincts changed?
A. Federal law requires a redrawing of precinct lines every 10 years to balance population. Each precinct can have no more than 4000 residents. In 2010 Federal Census Wellesley's population had grown slightly and we were required to add a new precinct. All areas of town were then redrawn to accommodate the new precinct. These precinct lines will be in effect until 2021 or later. the Board of Selectmen considered multiple options in the winter/spring of 2011 and held public hearings before designating the new precinct lines in June of 2011.
All residents whose precinct was changed will receive a notice during October with information on the new precinct voting places.
Q. What candidates and ballot questions are on the ballot for this election?
A. Sample ballots are posted on the town’s website, and sample/specimen ballots are posted at Town Hall.
Q. Are there any ballot questions this year?
A. There are three binding statewide questions and certain non-binding questions depending on where you live. Information on the binding statewide ballot questions is available at the following website: Voter Information
Wellesley has two nonbinding public policy questions.
Q. Do I need to show ID at the polls?
A. Massachusetts does not have a voter ID law. The only time that you will be asked for identification is if you are a first time voter and did not provide identification information at the time you registered to vote or if you are an inactive voter. A voter may become inactive when they or the head of household does not return the annual Town census also known as the street listing mailed in January every year. An “inactive” voter will be asked for identification that shows that they live at the address at which they are registered and they will be asked to sign an affirmation of continuous residency. You may change your voter status from inactive to active by re-registering to vote or completing the annual street listing. Or by mailing a
statement of continuous residency to the Town Clerk prior to October 17, 2012
Q. Who can vote absentee?
A. In Massachusetts, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, voters may vote by absentee ballot “if they will be absent from the town on election day, and/or have a physical disability which prevents them from voting at their polling location, and/or cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs”.
Q. How can I get an absentee ballot?
A. You may get an application for an absentee ballot in the Town Clerk’s office or you may download the application at the following link: Absentee Ballot applications
The application must be submitted to the Town Clerk’s office no later than 12 PM (Noon) on Monday, November 5, 2012. All absentee ballots must be completed following the instructions which are included when they are mailed out. You may also vote, after completing an absentee ballot application, in the Town Clerk’s office during business hours if you find that you will not be able to vote on Election Day for any of the reasons that entitle you to vote absentee. Completed absentee ballots must be received by 8 PM (the time the polls close) on November 6th. A completed absentee ballot, appropriately signed and sealed, may be dropped off at the Town Clerk’s office but may NOT be delivered directly to the polling
location.
Q. May I request an absentee ballot for my child, spouse or parent?
A. Yes, you may fill out the form entitled “Absentee ballot application by a family member”. It is available at the Town Clerk’s office or at the above link.You may request an absentee ballot be mailed to a family member but you may not take it with you to give to them. The absentee ballot, when it is returned must be sealed following the instructions which are provided to the voter. This ballot may be mailed or dropped off at the Town Clerk’s office.
Q. I am Active Duty Military or a US citizen living outside the continental United States, how can I vote?
A. The link below has very detailed information regarding voting for citizens who live either permanently or temporarily outside of the country and for voting for members of the military and their families.UOCAVA VOTERS.
Please call us at 781-431-1019 ext 2252 if you have any other questions or need additional information. The Town Clerk’s office is located on the first floor of Town Hall at 525 Washington Street. Our office hours are Monday – Friday 8am - 5 pm.
| 
