Boston voters frustrated as ballot drop boxes close before 5 p.m. on Halloween

BOSTON — As calls for increased election security measures continue, many cities and towns across the commonwealth moved quickly to empty and lock up ballot drop boxes on Halloween night.

Still, some voters felt frustrated by how early in the day they closed. In Boston, many residents were turned away after finding the ballot boxes locked by mid-afternoon.

“Voting was kind of the last thing off the list, and now I’m here and it’s not even 5 o’clock and I looked like an idiot trying to figure out how to open a ballot box,” said Madeline Brisotti, a Back Bay resident.

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Brisotti, who showed up to the Copley Square location around 4:30 p.m. after running errands, was one of many who rushed to cast their ballot before 5 p.m.

Earlier in the week, the city announced all drop boxes would be closed by 5 p.m. on Halloween night after the Secretary of State’s office directed cities and towns to do so for security reasons. Many voters thought that they had up until that time.

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“I’m incredibly frustrated,” Brisotti said.

The push for tighter election security came just one day after a ballot drop box in Copley Square was set on fire last weekend.

While the Boston city website states that ballot drop boxes will be re-opened Sunday morning, notes taped onto them Saturday stated they would reopen on Sunday at noon.

One voter told Boston 25 News she may just wait until Election day to vote.

“I’ve been pretty hesitant about this whole mailing-in ballot versus in-person, so I’ve actually had my ballot for a few weeks now. But I haven’t dropped it off because I still didn’t know if I was going to do it in person or not. But I guess that’s my best bet this time around,” said Dorchester resident Christina Haggerty.

Drop boxes will be open until 8 p.m. on Election Day. For more information about ballot drop box locations, click here.

Vote by mail steps:

• Request your mail-in ballot through www.mailmyballotma.com or with a mail ballot application.
• Fill out the application completely.
• Submit the request online through www.mailmyballotma.com or to your local election office. You should request your ballot as far in advance of the election as possible. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
• When your ballot arrives, read it carefully and follow the instructions to complete it and return it.
• Track your ballot

Voter Resources

• View My Ballot
• Massachusetts Ballot Questions
• Am I Registered to Vote?
• Where Do I Vote?
• Find My Drop Box
• Track My Ballot
• Mail-in Registration Form
• Automatic Voter Registration
• Massachusetts Districts