For the first time ever, many Massachusetts residents will have the chance to cast their vote for president prior to Election Day on Nov. 8.
The new statewide early voting program begins Monday and runs through Nov. 4. Residents may vote at specific polling places in their community, oftentimes the city or town hall, rather than take the traditional route of heading to the polls on Election Day.
This new initiative is distinct from the existing absentee voting system, which requires that residents be physically unable to get to the polls on Nov. 8. Those interested in participating in this early voting system need no excuse.
“You don’t have to have a reason for voting early,” Northampton City Clerk Wendy Mazza said.
Information about where and when early voting is available in each community is available at the secretary of state’s website (www.sec.state.ma.us) or by contacting city or town clerks’ offices.
About 3 million Massachusetts voters cast ballots in each of the last two presidential elections. This year, voter participation is widely expected to be even higher, according to Secretary of State William Galvin.
Early voting could “relieve some of the lines we anticipate having on Nov. 8,” Galvin said in a recent interview. “We do anticipate a large turnout.”
Communities are required to have at least one voting site open during normal business hours, oftentimes at the city or town hall. Many Valley towns, however, are going beyond the law’s requirements and offering additional polling places and extended hours.
In Amherst, for example, voting will be available on various days and times at Town Hall, North Fire Station, Munson Memorial Library and the University of Massachusetts Amherst Student Union.
Town Clerk Sandra J. Burgess said that in past presidential elections, large groups of people heading to polling places from a bus, for example, have caused congestion.
Northampton is offering just one polling place for early voting, City Hall, though it will extend hours as late as 8:30 p.m. on certain days and be open Saturday, Oct. 29, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Mazza said the city clerk’s office has seen a great deal of excitement about this election among voters. She expects a large number of people will take advantage of the opportunity on Monday.
“They may be standing in line here versus standing in line at the polls,” she said. “Monday appears it will be the busiest day. We’re trying to tell people to hold off until later in the day, or come in the following day.”
Mazza said her staff have fielded many calls about early voting and have also relied on a traditional measure, absentee ballot applications, to forecast that this year’s turnout may be record-breaking. “Absentee voting is higher than it was in 2008 when Obama first ran,” Mazza said.
Williamsburg Town Clerk Brenda Lessard, too, is expecting big numbers from this election. In the 2008 presidential election, 92 percent of registered town voters cast ballots, she said. “I’m curious if it will be the highest turnout we’ve ever seen,” she said.
Senate President Stanley Rosenberg in a statement highlighted the importance of expanded voter access.
“With this change, voters will have 12 days to cast a ballot instead of 12 hours,” he said. “Every vote counts. Al Gore lost in Florida by 537 votes, which cost him the presidency. President (John F.) Kennedy won his election by less than two votes per voting precinct. I encourage everyone to cast their ballot over the next few weeks.”
While advocates have praised the state for joining at least 30 others that already offer early voting, experts say the chance to cast a ballot early likely won’t increase voter turnout dramatically.
“My research says it doesn’t do much at all,” said Ray La Raja, professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Early voters are usually ones who are most committed to their candidates. They’ve paid close attention to the election and are often party loyalists, La Raja said.
Early voting figures can act as a gauge as to “how the party is rousing up its base,” he said. And if Florida’s showing is any indication, that might be bad news for Republicans.
As of last Friday, GOP voters cast 5,300 more ballots than registered Democrats. But Republican voters at that point in the 2012 election were closer to 8,000 ahead, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
La Raja said early voting could affect turnout if coupled with ramped-up mobilization efforts. But the biggest thing that would increase the number of people voting is same-day voter registration, currently in place in over a dozen states.
The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 8 election in Massachusetts was Wednesday.
Lessard said she is trying to mobilize Williamsburg voters who might benefit greatly from early voting — the elderly and those with mobility impairments.
“I’m trying to reach out to seniors because a lot of times they have a hard time standing in line,” she said.
Cities and towns are eligible to have some of the cost associated with early voting reimbursed through state grants, but they’re still forced to pick up the tab for some of it.
Northampton was awarded a $1,750 state grant due to its extended weekend and night hours, Mazza said. She said that will help pay for the additional staff member who will work after the office closes to assist her in early voting.
Williamsburg received a $250 grant, and while Lessard has tapped a poll worker to help with early voting, she doesn’t expect it to cost the town too much more money.
Amherst’s total costs before state reimbursement are expected to be around $6,800. The town was already awarded $1,000 and is now eligible for more money because it has crossed the 20,000 registered voter threshold, Burgess said.
Staff writer Amanda Drane contributed reporting.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com