SAUGUS — Saugus has installed a ballot drop box outside of Town Hall in anticipation of the upcoming Nov. 3 Presidential Election.
Located to the immediate right of the building’s front entrance, voters will be able to drop off their mail-in ballots at the secured box any time between now and Oct. 30.
Town Manager Scott Crabtree said he made the decision to purchase the box following last month’s primaries, during which Saugus saw a higher-than-usual voter turnout and an especially high number of mail-in ballots.
“We had such a large number of ballots that were requested by mail (during the primary election) and people were dropping them off, so we made the decision to purchase a designated voting box,” he said. “It made sense.”
According to Town Clerk Ellen Schena, 4,064 residents voted early during the Sept. 1 primaries, and more than that number have already requested mail-in ballots for the upcoming election.
She credited the COVID-19 pandemic for both increases.
“(September) was a heavier election (when it comes to) percentage,” Schena told The Item last month. “Usually it’s 20 percent turnout or below for state primaries in Saugus. I think early voting affected it, with the mail-in making it easier (for more people to vote).”
Expecting an even higher turnout this time around, Crabtree said his office purchased the box using Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding provided by the state and federal government.
He added that he envisions mail-in voting becoming a common standard for future elections.
“Due to COVID, voting procedures by the state have changed a little bit,” Crabtree said. “Feedback I’ve heard is that people really like the ability to be able to do their ballot and mail it back, so I think even post-COVID, this may be something that’s popular.”
Saturday, Oct. 24 is the last day to register to vote or to make changes to voter registrations, and Monday, Nov. 2 by 12 p.m. is the last day residents will be able to apply for an absentee ballot.
For more information, residents should contact the Town Clerk’s office at (781) 231-4101, or the Town Manager’s office at (781) 231-4111.
Elyse Carmosino can be reached at [email protected].
