LWV Newton logo

Visit us on Facebook!

Elections

Newton Special Election – Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Recently, two seats on Newton City’s Council became vacant due to the untimely death of City Councilor Allan “Jay” Ciccone, Jr. and the election of City Councilor Jake Auchincloss as U.S. Representative to Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District.  A special election will be held to fill these seats:

  • City Council – Ward 1 At-Large
  • City Council – Ward 2 At-Large

Date of Special Election

The election will take place on Tuesday, March 16, 2021.   Read more below for information about the candidates, to date, who have announced their decision to run and on how to plan your vote.

Read more →

Questions for Upcoming Candidate Forum: Please Submit by February 15, 2021

Candidate ForumOn Monday, February 15, LWVN together with NewTV will be taping Candidate Forums for the candidates in the March 16, 2021 Special Election.  We need questions to ask the candidates.

Send us questions YOU would like to ask the candidates for the vacant Ward 1 and Ward 2 At-Large City Council seats.  We can’t guarantee they will be used verbatim, but we will try to address as many topics and questions as possible.  We especially appreciate questions that are direct and about 1-2 sentences long–these tend to mean more direct and focused answers. Please submit your questions before 4:00 pm on Monday, February 15 to LWVN and use the subject line “Questions for Candidates in 2021 Special Election”.

Our forums will be taped by NewTV, to be shown on NewTV at a later date and available online.  Check our website for viewing information!

Count the Vote

Democracy is worth waiting for!

An unprecedented number of voters participated in these elections.  Every eligible voter should have their voice heard and their vote counted. When we take the time to count and verify every ballot, it’s a sign that our democracy is working.

 

Quarantined or Hospitalized? You can still vote!

Emergency Absentee Ballots

If you have been admitted to a healthcare facility or you are instructed to quarantine in your home within 1 week of the election, you may use the absentee ballot application to designate someone of your choice to deliver a ballot to you.

The person you designate to deliver your ballot will need to bring the signed application to your local election office, pick up your absentee ballot, bring it to you, and return it for you by the close of polls on Election Day. Emergency ballots may be requested up until the close of polls.

The absentee ballot application is here: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleabsentee/absidx.htm.

The League Presents: Vote Yes on Question 2 and support Ranked Choice Voting

The League of Women of Voters of Massachusetts (LWVMA) and the League of Women Voters, Newton (LWVN) support and urge a YES vote on Question 2 Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for primary and general elections for state executive officials, state legislators, federal congressional representatives, and certain county offices.

RCV is a voting method in which voters rank candidates according to their preferences.  The LWVN thought it was important for us to provide our members and Newton Voters more information about RCV.  In our latest The League Presents…,  Marcia Johnson discussed Ranked Choice Voting with Susan Millinger, LWVMA Board of Directors and LWV Amherst Steering Committee member about RCV and covered the following topics:

History and Benefits of RCV:

  1. The key differences between RCV and Plurality system
  2. The reasons as to why the League supports this ballot question.
  3. The mechanics of how this works and what it takes for a candidate to win.
  4. The challenges and potential drawbacks to RCV.

For more information, please refer to the Secretary of State’s Office.

How to Vote by Mail

If you requested a mail-in ballot, it should be arriving soon!  You can mark and return your ballot as soon as it’s received.  Your vote by mail package will include your ballot, a yellow ballot envelope, a white return envelope, and detailed instructions.  Please read the instructions, but here’s the gist of what to do:

How to vote by mail infographic
Click to enlarge

Vote your Ballot

  • Fill in the oval for your candidates
  • Votes both sides of your ballot

Place your ballot in the yellow envelope

  • SEAL the yellow envelope
  • SIGN your name on the signature line
  • PRINT your  name and address on the lines below your signature

Return your ballot in the white envelope

  • PLACE yellow envelope in the white return envelope
  • SEAL the white envelope
  • RETURN by mail or in person using the drop boxes at City Hall

Note:  If you need assistance because of disability or inability to read your ballot, you may choose any person to help you.  The assisting person should then read and complete the appropriate section on the yellow ballot envelope.

Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 6 or deposited in the drop boxes at City Hall by 8pm on Nov. 3.  It is strongly encouraged to mail ballots no later than October 27.