City Clerk Outlines What to Know for Primary Election

FRAMINGHAM - Framingham City Clerk Lisa Ferguson provided a summary of important deadlines and information leading up to the upcoming primary elections during the City Council's most recent meeting on Tuesday, February 20.

The Massachusetts primaries will be taking place on Super Tuesday, March 5. Residents will be able to vote for Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian presidential candidates, while some local voters will also be tasked with choosing the 35 individuals who will comprise the Framingham Democratic Committee.

Ferguson explained that unenrolled and independent voters will have the option of choosing either the Democratic Republican, or Libertarian ballot.

"When an unenrolled voter chooses a party option, they are just making a ballot choice; they’re not registering in that party," Ferguson told attendees during the meeting's public participation portion.

Samples of all three ballots can be found on the city's website by clicking here, though Ferguson mentioned that the city is not permitted by law to allow voters to change their primary ballot once their official selection has been made. So, she has strongly recommended that unenrolled or independent voters read the sample ballots before making their decision.

The deadline to register for the primary or to change party affiliations is Saturday, February 24 at 5 p.m.

The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27. Mail-in ballots have to be received by 8 p.m. on the night of the election, according to Ferguson.

She urged those who have already received a mail-in ballot to turn theirs in "immediately."

“Place your ballots in one of the two drop boxes, either at the McAuliffe Library or behind the Memorial Building," Ferguson continued.

"The sooner we receive the ballots back, the easier it is for my office to process them.”

Ferguson added that mail-in ballots can be dropped off at an early voting site, though they cannot be returned at a polling location on March 5.

Early voting in Framingham will begin on Saturday, February 24. Both the Memorial Building and the McAuliffe Branch Library will be open for early voting through Friday, March 1. Polls at the library will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during those days, while voting times at the Memorial Building will vary.

A full early voting schedule in Framingham can be found below.

The City Clerk's office is available for any additional assistance. They can be reached by calling 508-532-5520 or by emailing cityclerk@framinghamma.gov.