Town Clerk

Important Information Regarding Elections & Voting

THE LAST DAY TO REQUEST TO VOTE EARLY BY MAIL WAS FEBRUARY 27TH.  IF YOU FIND YOU WILL BE OUT OF TOWN ON MARCH 5TH PLEASE COME TO THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE AND VOTE IN PERSON OR APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT WHICH MUST BE MAILED TO YOU.  

Every Vote Counts!!   Click here for more information from the State Elections Division.

Vote by Mail Application

Register to Vote for the Local Election, the State Primary and Presidential Election.

       Review the Presidential Primary Ballots:

                     Republican - Democrat - Libertarian


You may submit an application to register or pre-register to vote in Massachusetts if:

You are a citizen of the United States; and

You are 16 years old; and

You are not currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction.

If you meet the above requirements, you may apply online, by mail, or in-person.

Visit Town Clerk's Office and fill out a voter registration form or click Register To Vote 

Registration Deadline:  The voter registration deadline is 10 days prior to any election.

Be sure to know your precinct before arriving at the polls click here 

 

Voting in Marshfield

The polls will open on election day at 7 AM  and close 8 PM at the Marshfield High School Gymnasium, 167 Forest St.  Enter behind the Ram statue.  There are people in the lobby to help you find your precinct if you need help, otherwise enter the gym and find your precinct. 

At the check-In table tell the poll worker the first three letters of your last name, followed by the first three letters of your first name, then announce your full name, your street number and street name.  The Poll worker will repeat the information back to you.  This is a PRIMARY ELECTION the purpose is to choose the Presidential candidate for the November election.  If you are a Registered Republican you get a Republican ballot.  If you are a registered Democrat you get a Democratic ballot.  If you are a registered Libertarian you get a Libertarian ballot.  If you are Unenrolled (not enrolled in a party) you may pick your ballot.  Sample ballots are plastered all about the gym.  Take your time read them. You may only choose one ballot - THERE ARE NO DO OVERS - once you pick a ballot, no one can change your choice.  Not even your Mom.  

If your name does not appear on the list the poll worker will send you to the Precinct Warden's table.

To cast your vote in Marshfield follow the voting instructions in the voting booth by filling in the oval circle directly across from the name you wish to vote. If you need assistance, you may bring someone to assist you or ask a poll worker to provide confidential, non-partisan help.  If you make a mistake - ask the Warden or Clerk at the Table at the rear of your Precinct for a replacement ballot.  You are permitted up to three ballots.  If you err on the third ballot, the Warden or Clerk can advise you how to best handle your mistake so that your choice will be correctly tallied.

NO political paraphernalia may be displayed within 150 feet of the entrance to the polling location (includes signs, stickers, clothing and lapel buttons).

Voting Absentee  

If unable to vote on election day because of physical disability, religious beliefs or travel you may vote by absentee ballot.
 

Request your absentee by mail ballot from the Town Clerk up to four business days prior to the election.  Voting absentee/early in person must be done before 12 noon the day before an election.  Absentee/Early ballots are generally available up to three weeks before an election.  .

Application for absentee ballots may be submitted in-person at the Town Clerk's Office, by mail, or email. If a voter submits the application in-person he may obtain the ballot and vote in person over-the -counter. Otherwise, the ballot is sent by mail.  No person may leave the Town Hall with a ballot in hand.  If a family member is hospitalized within 48 hours of an elections special arrangements can be made, please speak directly to the Town Clerk who can be found at the High School walking hither and yon putting out small fires. 

Members of the same household may request absentee ballots and must be 18 years of age.

Return of ballots must be received in the Town Clerks Office before the polls close at 8:00PM to be counted.  Ballots CANNOT be returned at the High School.

Early Voting is available for all of the 2024 State Elections dates and times here: 

                   Schedule of 2024 State Elections:

FALL 2024 STATE ELECTIONS VOTER OPTION GUIDE:

Vote by Mail:
   
All registered voters qualify to vote by mail in the Fall 2024 elections.  45 days prior to the election, a post card application will be mailed to ALL registered voters, at their mailing address, who have not already applied to receive a vote by mail ballot 60 days prior to the election.

ALL REGISTERED VOTERS WHO HAVE NOT APPLIED TO RECEIVE A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT FOR THE FALL ELECTIONS BY JULY 1ST WILL RECEIVE A POST CARD APPLICATION MAILED TO THEM AROUND JULY FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION. 
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK VOTERS TO WAIT AND RETURN THE POST CARD TO APPLY.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR VOTING ABSENTEE OR NO EXCUSE EARLY VOTING BY MAIL

Ballots can only be MAILED - you may not pick up a ballot.

Ballots are generally available for mailing 2-3 weeks prior to an election.

DEADLINES TO APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE OR EARLY VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT
Applications for ballots to be mailed to a voter must be received by the Town Clerk by 5PM on the 5th business day before an election.  We recommend applying earlier than the deadline as the US Postal delivery services are not consistent and can range from 3 to 11 days.  

Submitting your Absentee or Early Voting Application:  

Email the signed application to: townclerk@marshfield-ma.gov

Mail the signed application to:

                                       Town Clerk's Office
                                       870 Moraine Street
                                       Marshfield, MA  02050
or

Drop off the signed application in the drop slot located in the window on the left hand walkway – Snow Road side - of the building.

Return of Absentee or Vote by Mail Ballots:
Mailed Ballots, for state elections, include a postage pre-paid return ballot envelope that is addressed to the Town Clerk's Office.  You may return your ballot by mail or hand deliver your ballot by placing it in the drop slot outside the Town Clerk's Office window on the Snow Road side of Town Hall (prior to the close of polls on Election Day). 

Ballots cannot be returned to the polling location on Election Day - they must be returned to the ballot drop box located at the Town Hall (870 Moraine St).  Your returned ballot on Election Day will be processed and brought to the polls to be cast by the Town Clerk’s staff.   

Voters who receive a vote by mail ballot but have not returned it prior to Election Day may appear to vote in person and cast a ballot on Election Day.  Any voter that has returned a vote by mail ballot (or voted early in person) is not permitted to appear to vote in person on Election Day.

Deadlines for ballots to be returned and counted:

All Elections- All ballots must be received at Town Hall by close of polls on Election day.

Please note that US Postal delivery services are not consistent and can range from 3 to 11 days.  We recommend voters return their ballots in the drop box outside of the town offices by the close of polls on Election Day to ensure it is counted.

Track your Mailed Ballot - State & Federal Elections Only 
You can track your mailed ballot request to see if the Town Clerk's Office has received and processed your application. You are able to see when a ballot was sent to you and when the returned ballot has been recorded as received in the Office of the Town Clerk. This feature is available for State and Federal Elections only, it is not available for Town Elections.

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ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Most voters do not qualify to receive an absentee ballot to be sent to them. 

Massachusetts allows voters that QUALIFY to vote by absentee ballot if the voter is one of the following:

Will be absent from your city or town on election day

Has a physical disability that prevents voting at the polling place

Cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs

Absentee Voter Applications
Absentee ballots can only be MAILED to those who qualify, upon receipt of a completed and signed absentee ballot application.  You may not pick up an absentee ballot.

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EARLY VOTING (by Mail or in person)  FAQ:

If I applied for a vote by mail ballot can I appear to vote in person at an early voting site or at the polls on Election Day?

YES - If your vote by mail ballot has not been received back to the Town Clerk’s Office, you may still appear to vote in person at the polls on Election Day or at an early voting site.  These voters will be required to complete additional paperwork and will need to show an ID.  Should your mail in ballot be received after you voted early in person or at the polls on Election Day that ballot will be rejected and will not be counted

NO - If a vote by mail ballot has already been received back by the Town Clerk’s Office.  A returned vote by mail ballot is considered cast and you will not be eligible to vote by mail, early in person or in person at the polls on Election Day.

If I vote early in person can I appear to vote in person at the polls on Election Day?

NO - If you appeared to vote early in person your ballot will be considered cast and you will not be eligible to vote by mail, or in person at the polls on Election Day.  Voting in Person at the Polls after submitting an early ballot is prohibited as outlined in 950 CMR 4 7.19.

When & How is an early voter's ballot (by mail or in person) cast?  Marshfield is an Advance Removal and Advance Deposit community.  At posted dates and times which take place during early in-person early voting in Town Hall the following procedure will be followed:
All vote by mail and early voting in person ballots are date stamped on the day they are received and entered into the State’s ballot tracking system.  As soon as the next calendar day, a list of returned ballots can be run and those ballots can be processed.  The list is matched to the ballot envelopes in groups of 25 ballots sorted in alphabetical order by precinct.  The ballot envelopes are verified as signed by the voter or an approved representative/helper, the envelopes are slit and the folded ballots are placed in piles of 25.  The ballots are then processed by precinct through the voting machines.  Cast ballots are removed from the voting machines and are sealed in boxes with uniquely numbered seals and stored in the Town Clerk's vault.

A Notice of Advanced Removal of Early Voted Ballots from Envelopes and Advanced Depositing of Early Voted Ballots will be posted with the Secretary of the Commonwealths Office and also on the Town of Marshfield's website.  Notice(s) will also be posted throughout various locations in Town if the Clerk so chooses to perform any of the advanced opening and depositing options giving the dates and times of the planned processing(s).

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Staff Contacts

Name Title Phone
Narice Ann Casper II Town Clerk 781-834-5540
Theresa Wening Assistant Town Clerk 781-834-5540