From the Town Clerk

The crisp autumn weather is here and along with that colorful fall leaves, pumpkins, apple picking and Columbus Day weekend.  I would like to remind everyone that Town Offices will be closed on Monday October 12^th in observance of the holiday.  I hope everyone can get out and enjoy all the beauty New England has to offer during the fall season.

September results for the State Primary
Please see below for the election results from the September 1, 2020 State Primary

Drop in Attached Tally sheet

November 3, 2020 State/Presidential Election

EARLY VOTING INFORMATION

To ensure timely delivery of your ballot, it is recommended that you request a November ballot no later than October 20. Applications received after October 28 cannot be accepted. Apply early in order to have enough time to return your ballot.

If you have already sent in your postcard to receive a ballot and checked off wanting a ballot for both elections, or for November 3 only, your request has been inputted and you will get a November 3, 2020 ballot in the mail. Do not request another one by mail.

Please note ballots will be sent out the as soon as we receive them from the state. Look for them in the mail by mid-October. Remember to fill out your ballot with a black pen or ideally a black felt tip marker. FILL IN THE OVAL do not use an X or check mark.

To return your vote-by-mail ballot you can either mail it back, place it in the drop-box in front of Town Hall, or hand deliver it to the Town Clerk’s office. The deadlines to do this are:
Drop-box - 8pm November 3.
Mail- postmarked by November 3 and received by the Town Clerk by 5PM November 6, 2020.

If you are not a registered voter and would like to register please go to www.sec.state.ma.us this website has everything you need to know about voting in the State of Massachusetts. The deadline to register for the November election is October 24.  You can also come in to the Town Clerk’s office and register to vote in person.

There will be in person voting on Election Day. All precincts vote at the Seekonk High School - 261 Arcade Ave. Polls open at 7:00AM and close at 8:00PM.

There will also be two weeks of early voting held at the Town Hall – 100 Peck St. Board of selectman’s meeting room. See the schedule below.

Presidential Election Early Voting Schedule Early

Safety Protocols for the November Election
In the interests of providing a safe environment for people at our Elections and in concert with the overriding effort to protect the public and the town employees during the COVID pandemic, the following protocols and procedures will be implemented. These plans and operating procedures have been approved by the Seekonk Health Agent. All the usual standards and accommodations of our Elections will continue, other than where noted. The Town Clerk’s office primary goal is to assure both safety and legitimacy of our Town Election.

A record of attendees/voters will be maintained through the voter check- in list should there be a need for contact tracing.

All staff and volunteers associated with the election will participate in
self-screening/self –certifying process.

All residents/voters and staff must wear face coverings or masks in accordance with COVID-19 Order No. 31 and the Department of Public Health’s Guidance while inside and while entering and exiting the location. Exceptions for people that are unable to wear a face covering or mask due to a medical or disabling condition.

Voting & Social Distancing: Voters must keep a space between them of 6 feet. The floor will be marked with blue tape to allow for sufficient distance between people.

Poll workers will be 6 feet away from voter when checking people in and out. The poll workers will have gloves on when handing the ballot to a person. 

Voters will receive a new pen to use when voting and will be asked to return it to a basket where it will be sanitized, if it needs to be used again.

Voting booths will be regularly sanitized throughout the day. 

Voting hours are from 7am – 8pm giving people plenty of time to come to the polls throughout the day hopefully avoid long lines waiting to check-in to vote.

There will be hand sanitizing stations and a bathroom with running water and soap for handwashing.

No social gathering will be allowed in any of the common area

Fall Town meeting
Town meeting date has been set for November 9, 2020. It will be held at the High School auditorium starting at 7PM.

Reminder Monday November 2, 2020 quarterly real estate taxes are due.

The Flu vaccine is now available. For more information please contact the Board of Health at 508-336-2950.

Have a wonderful October stay well and remember the Town Clerk’s office welcomes inquiries from all residents seeking assistance, or information in relation to services provided by the Town of Seekonk.

Florice Craig, Town Clerk & Lorraine Sorel, Assistant Town Clerk