Absentee Voting

PLEASE NOTE:  AN ABSENTEE BALLOT CANNOT BE HAND-CARRIED OUT OF THE OFFICE UNLESS THE VOTER QUALIFIES FOR AN EMERGENCY BALLOT. 

Eligibility   

To qualify for an absentee ballot, you must:

• Be away from Edgartown on Election Day; or
• Have a disability that keeps you from voting at your polling place; or
• Have a religious belief that prevents you from voting at your polling place on Election Day

Absentee voters use the same ballots as early voters and have the same deadlines for returning their ballots. Most voters who qualify for an absentee ballot can choose instead to apply for an early Vote by Mail ballot. There are some times that an absentee ballot application is needed. You should fill out an absentee ballot application if:

• You are a U.S. Citizen residing overseas; or
• You are on active military duty; or
• You are currently incarcerated for a reason other than a felony conviction; or
• You are requesting an emergency absentee ballot due to hospitalization.

If you do not qualify to vote by absentee, you may Early Vote by mail.

How to Apply

The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail will be 5 p.m. on the 5th business day before an election.  The voter or voter’s family member may download an absentee ballot application or write a request and send it to the Town Clerk’s office by email to kmedeiros@edgartown-ma.us , by fax to 508-627-6119, by mail to: Town Clerk, PO Box 35, Edgartown, MA 02539 or by hand-delivery by placing it into the drop box located outside of Town Hall.  

When submitting applications or written requests by e-mail, the "hand written" signature of the person requesting the ballot must be visible; cursive font or electronic signature attachments are UNACCEPTABLE.  Also, if the application or written request is being submitted by e-mail, a scanned copy of the request must be attached.  The written request for an absentee ballot must include all of the following:  full name of voter, legal voting address, and mailing address (if different), indicate date of election or all elections for current year and hand-written signature.

Use the Track My Ballot link to check the status of your ballot. The tracker will show the date your ballot was mailed, the date it was returned, and whether your ballot was accepted or rejected.

Vote by Mail Accommodations

 Accessible vote by mail ballots are available for certain voters. If you are blind or have a vision impairment, have a mobility or dexterity disability, or have another disability that makes it difficult for you to mark a paper ballot, you can request an accessible vote by mail ballot.  For more information please visit the Accessible Vote by Mail page.

Emergency Ballot

If you have been admitted to a healthcare facility within 7 days of an election, you may use the absentee ballot application to designate someone to pick up your emergency absentee ballot, deliver it to you, and return it to the Edgartown Town Clerk's Office by the close of polls on Election Day.  You may submit the completed and signed absentee ballot application by email (kmedeiros@edgartown-ma.us), fax (508-627-6119) or in person.

Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot

The Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) is a ballot of last resort.  If you were not able to apply or receive your ballot in time, you may submit a FWAB.  The FWAB is a blank ballot, which you may use to vote for any candidates or ballot questions.  You may use a FWAB for any election, whether or not you have applied for a ballot.  A FWAB may be submitted by mail to Town Clerk's Office:  PO Box 35, Edgartown, MA 02539, email: kmedeiros@edgartown-ma.us or fax: 508-627-6119.

Returning Your Ballot

There are several options for returning your ballot.  You may return your ballot by:

• Mailing it back using the envelope provided; or
• Hand-delivering your ballot to the Town Clerk's office 70 Main St, Edgartown, MA 02539
• Using the drop box located outside of Town Hall

Absentee Voting In Person 

Absentee voters may vote in person at the Town Clerk's office at 70 Main St, Edgartown.  The last day to vote by absentee in person is the day before an election and no later than 12 PM. 

All Mail-In Ballots are Counted

Except for ballots which are rejected as defective or incomplete, all absentee ballots are cast and counted by the poll workers on Election Day.  Absentee and Early ballots are included in the final tallies, and are counted whether or not an election contains a close race.

Please contact the Town Clerk’s office with questions or concerns by email kmedeiros@edgartown-ma.us or by phone at 508-627-6110.