Early Voting for State Primary Begins August 24

Early Voting for State Primary Begins August 24

Saturday is Also Last Day to Register to Vote or Change Party for Primary

NEW BEDFORD – The New Bedford Election Commission has announced the early voting schedule for the 2024 State Primary election.

Early voting will take place daily from August 24-30 at the Downtown New Bedford Free Public Library, 613 Pleasant St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, August 24, is also the last day people can register to vote or change their political party prior to the state primary, which is set for Tuesday, September 3.

Additionally, absentee and mail-in ballots continue to be available for the primary. The deadline to apply by mail for an absentee or mail-in ballot is August 26 at 5 p.m., while the deadline to apply in person at the Elections Office at City Hall (133 William St.) is Monday, September 2 (Labor Day) at noon. All absentee or mail-in ballots must be returned to the Elections Office by 8 p.m. on election day, either by mail, being hand-delivered to the office, or placed in the drop-off boxes outside City Hall or on Elm Street by the bus terminal.

Voters are reminded that Massachusetts holds so-called “closed primary” elections; members of a political party are only allowed to vote in their own party’s primary; unenrolled or independent voters are not similarly restricted and may request primary election ballots of any party. Libertarian voters are advised that their party’s primary ballot will be blank as there are no libertarian candidates this election cycle. Libertarian voters may write-in a candidate of their choosing.

The Elections Office utilizes a DS450 high-speed tabulator from Election Systems & Software to process mail-in, early, and absentee ballots. The public can observe the machine and the process on Saturday, August 31, at 9 a.m. at the Elections Office in City Hall.

Any New Bedford resident who is uncertain about their voting status, designated polling location, has changed their address since the last election, or has other questions about the election can contact the Board of Election Commissioners at 508-979-1420.