Voting in the September 1 Primary
Who can vote in the primary?
In Massachusetts, all registered voters may vote in the primary.
Members of political parties may vote only in their own party’s primary elections. There are four parties: Republican, Democrat, Green-Rainbow, and Libertarian. Unenrolled voters (commonly referred to as “Independents”) and members of political designations or minor parties may vote in the party primary of their choice. Choosing to vote in a particular party’s primary does NOT enroll you as a member of that party.
A full list of political parties and designations may be found here.
LWV-Needham will continue to assemble information from the Needham Town Clerk’s and Secretary of the Commonwealth’s websites. The Town Clerk and the Secretary of the Commonwealth are the primary sources for information on voting and elections.
What will Needham voters be voting on?
Party nominees for county, state, and district offices; US House of Representatives and US Senate.
To find out who the candidates are, visit our Voter Guide webpage.
For information on Needham’s elected officials, visit our Elected Officials webpage.
Announcement on the Town of Needham Facebook page, August 17, 2020 regarding duplicate mail-in ballots.
Announcement from the Needham Town Clerk, July 17, 2020. Download the pdf.
Voter Registration
The deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation for the September 1 Primary is August 22.
Keep in mind, however, that if you are voting by mail, you’ll need to make any necessary party changes before applying for your ballot, so you can get the ballot that you want.
Am I registered? Affiliated with a party?
Check your voter status and party affiliation at this link.
How do I register to vote?
The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website has complete information. There are online, mail-in, and in-person options for registering.
On August 22 Needham residents can register to vote in person by visiting Needham Town Hall between the hours of 2 to 4 and 7 to 8 pm.
Early Voting by Mail
The September 1 Primary will include Early Voting by Mail. Voting by mail is available to all voters for all elections in 2020. You do not need an excuse to vote by mail this year.
Steps to Early Vote by Mail
- Complete (be sure to sign) a Vote by Mail Application (see below, you should receive an application delivered to your home)
- Deliver* your application to the Needham Town Clerk
- Vote after your ballot arrives
- Return your ballot
Mailed applications must reach the Needham Town Clerk’s office by August 26 at 5 p.m. for the State Primary.
*Ways to submit a signed Absentee or an Early Vote by Mail Application to the Needham Town Clerk:
- Mail to Town Clerk’s Office, 1471 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492
- Place in the secure Drop Box in front of Town Hall
- Fax to 781-449-1246
- Email to Votingapplications@needhamma.gov
State Primary ballots need to be returned the Needham Town Clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on September 1.
Apply early, in order to have enough time to return your ballot.
You may apply in person for an Absentee or Early Ballot by Monday, August 31 at 12 p.m.
Details and FAQs
In July, a new law was passed to allow all registered voters in Massachusetts to vote by mail in any 2020 election, with no excuse needed.
As required by the new law, in mid-July a Vote by Mail application was mailed to every person who was registered to vote as of July 1 and who had not already requested an absentee ballot for the State Primary or for all elections this year. A second mailing will be sent out in September to all voters who have not already applied for a Vote by Mail ballot for the November election. The applications are pre-addressed to your local election official and no postage is necessary.
Voters registered after July 1 but on or before August 22 will receive the application from the Needham Town Clerk after registering to vote or registering a change of address.
For a State Primary ballot, your application must reach your local election office no later than August 26 at 5 p.m.
If you wish to vote by mail, you are strongly encouraged to return your application as early as possible, to make sure that you will receive your ballot in time to return it and have it be counted.
Vote by Mail applications are available for download and may also be requested by contacting the Elections Division.
Voters can request which language they would like for their mailed ballot.
The voter will receive from the Needham Town Clerk materials to Early Vote by Mail, including the ballot, envelopes, and instructions. Be sure to carefully check that you have completely followed the instructions.
Deliver your completed ballot via US Postal Service (postage is pre-paid) or deposit it in the Drop Box at Town Hall.
For more information on voting by mail, see Voting by Mail FAQs.
For questions on any aspect of voting in Needham, contact the Needham Town Clerk:
Theodora K. Eaton, MMC
1471 Highland Avenue Needham, MA 02492
Phone: (781) 455-7500
Email: Teaton@needhamma.gov
Website: www.needhamma.gov
Track My Mail-In Ballot
If you submitted an application to vote by mail, you can track the status of your mail-in ballot application and ballot with this online “Track My Ballot” tool. You should be able to find your information if you have submitted an application and the Town Clerk has received it. The Tracker indicates the date the ballot was sent and the date it was received. If you do not find your name wait a few days and try again.
If you did not submit an early or absentee ballot application you will not find your name.
Early Voting In Person
Early Voting in Person for the September 1, 2020, primary will be held Saturday, August 22 – Friday, August 28. All cities and towns will be required to offer early voting on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23.
You may vote at the early voting location in the city/town where you are registered to vote. The Needham Town Clerk announced on July 17 the following location and times:
Needham Town Hall
1471 Highland Avenue
Saturday, August 22 & Sunday, August 23 from 12 Noon to 5 PM
Monday, August 24 – Thursday, August 27 from 9 AM to 5 PM
Friday, August 28 – 9 AM to 12 Noon
Per Needham Town Clerk: Masks and social distancing will be required when entering Town Hall. If you have any questions on Early Voting contact the Needham Town Clerk’s Office at (781) 455-7500 x 216, 218, 219, 252.
Election Day In Person
Election Day: Tuesday, September 1, 2020
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For voters casting ballots in person, expect protocols in place to ensure social distancing. Note the change in location for Precincts E & H.
Precincts A & B – Center at the Heights, 300 Hillside Ave.
Precincts C & D – Newman Elementary School, 1155 Central Ave.
Precincts E & H – Needham Golf Club, 49 Green St.
Precincts F & G – Rosemary Complex, 178 Rosemary St.
Precincts I & J – Town Hall, 1471 Highland Ave.
Visit These Posts for Candidate Information
Voter Guide to the Primary Candidates
Candidate information and positions
Congressional District 4 Candidate Forum
Watch the Forum!
Sheriff Candidate Forum
Watch the July 29 forum!