Swampscott Town Clerk’s office extends hours for voter registration

SWAMPSCOTT – There is a heightened interest in the upcoming election among town residents and Town Clerk Susan Duplin said she expects a high turnout at the polls in November.The last day to register to vote in the upcoming Nov. 4 presidential election is Oct. 15 and the Swampscott Town Clerk’s Office is extending its hours on that day. Duplin said the office would be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15 for last minute voter registration.Duplin said voters could register in person in Town Hall or by mail. Voter registration forms are available in Town Hall or online at www.eac.gov/voter/Registration%20to%20Vote. She said mail-in registration forms must be postmarked no later than Oct. 15.”We’ve had a lot of people coming in to register to vote,” she said. “In a presidential election we usually have 400 to 500 absentee ballots and I think we already have more than 600 requests for absentee ballots. It is recommended that you request your absentee ballot as soon as possible given the volume of requests due to the Presidential Election. Voters who have already filled out an official absentee ballot application will be mailed an absentee ballot as soon as they arrive in the Clerk’s Office.”All applications for absentee ballots must be made in writing and applications may be mailed or hand delivered to Town Hall. Duplin said absentee ballots are available for individuals who will be out of town on election day, or who can not vote that day due to religious beliefs. She said absentee ballots are also available for individuals unable to vote at a polling location due to a physical disability. She added a family member could pick up absentee ballots for relatives who would be unable to get to the polls. Absentee ballot applications may also be downloaded at www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howabs.htm.The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot is noon on the day before the election. Absentee ballots must be received in the Clerk’s Office no later than the close of the polls on Nov. 4 by 8 p.m.Duplin added inactive/confirmation notices were sent out to voters, who did not respond to the 2008 census, in August as required by law.She said anyone who received the notice must fill it out and return it to the Town Clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Oct. 15.”Otherwise the voter will remain as an inactive voter for the November election,” she said. “Inactive voters may still vote on Election Day but should expect a delay at the polls due to filling out an Affirmation of Current and Continuous Residence form. If you’ve received one of these postcard notices and haven’t returned it yet I strongly urge you to do so as soon as possible to avoid waiting longer than necessary at the polls on Election Day.”Swampscott residents who are unsure of their voter status or need assistance regarding the voter registration should contact Duplin or Connie Hayes at 781-596-4167.