Voting news release # 13

September 17, 2009

Massachusetts Voters, Submit Your Ballot Request NOW for the December 8, 2009 Special Primary!

On Tuesday, December 8, 2009, Massachusetts will hold a special primary election followed by the special State election on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 to fill the vacancy left as a result of the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. A list of candidates will be available by November 13, 2009 at: www.sec.state.ma.us.

Request Your Ballot

Massachusetts waives registration. Request a ballot for this election by completing and submitting a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) if you have not done so already in calendar year 2009. If you are eligible to vote in this election, and requested and received a ballot for last year’s presidential election, you will automatically receive an absentee ballot, and need not take any further action unless your mailing address has changed.

The online version of the FPCA and Massachusetts’ instructions on how to fill out and submit the form are available at: www.fvap.gov. 

Recommended Mailing Dates for Your Ballot Request

Although the ballot request deadline is noon on Monday, December 7, 2009, this date does not take into account mail delivery times required to receive and return your ballot by Election Day. You should mail your FPCA by the following dates to account for mail delivery times:   

·       From Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom Locations/Deployed Navy Vessels: October 9, 2009

·       From Overseas Military Installations: October 24, 2009

·       From Other Overseas Locations: October 9, 2009 (or earlier, depending on foreign mail service)

·       From Within the United States: November 20, 2009

To save transit time, send your signed FPCA directly to your local election office via fax or as an email attachment. Fax numbers and email addresses can be found at: www.sec.state.ma.us.  You must also submit the original FPCA by mail if you fax or email the form.

Receive and Return Your Ballot

Local election officials mail ballots beginning November 13, 2009. You may not receive your blank ballot by fax or email.

Recommended Mailing Dates for Your Voted Ballot  

Although the deadline for your voted ballot to be received by your local election official is 8 pm on December 8, 2009, you should mail your ballot by the following dates to account for mail delivery times:

·       From Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom Locations/Deployed Navy Vessels: November 9, 2009

·       From Overseas Military Installations: November 23, 2009

·       From Other Overseas Locations: November 9, 2009 (or earlier, depending on foreign mail service)

·       From Within the United States: December 2, 2009

To make sure your ballot arrives by the deadline, vote and return your ballot IMMEDIATELY upon receiving it! You may only return your voted ballot by mail. The ballot may not be returned electronically.

Haven’t Received Your Ballot by the Recommended Mailing Date Above?

Use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

You may use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) in this Federal election.  Feel free to send in a FWAB even if you have not applied for a State absentee ballot, especially if the recommended mailing dates for your voted ballot are approaching.  An online version of the FWAB and Massachusetts instructions on how to fill out and submit the form are available at: www.fvap.gov. 

For More Information: Go to the Massachusetts election website at: www.sec.state.ma.us or visit FVAP at: www.fvap.gov.

We Want Your Feedback! If this document was helpful to you or if you ran into problems or have questions, please contact FVAP at 1-800-438-8683, DSN (312) 425-1584, or at vote@fvap.ncr.gov.  Toll-free phone numbers from 67 countries are listed at: www.fvap.gov/contact/tollfreephone.html. With your feedback, we can make this even more helpful for the next election.