By Jose A. Ayala
Believe it or not, we are in May, nearly half of 2015 and within a year of municipal elections in the State of Massachusetts. That means that voters in some towns and cities will take to the polls to elect councilors, school committee members and even, in some cases, new mayors.
As a tradition, municipal elections involve two visits to the polling stations, one for the preliminary election in September and the other is the general election or final choice in November.
In the preliminary election, voters will have to vote only for the candidates they want to pass to the final choice. Those getting the least votes will be eliminated from the contest.
This year 2015 the preliminary election is scheduled for September 8 and the general election for November 3. In both elections, the polls will be open to voters from 7 am to 8pm.
No matter what town or city you are, the election laws are set up that way. For you to vote in the primary election on September 8, you must be a US citizen and must be registered as a voter.
The last day to register to vote for the primary election is August 19 at 8pm. If you do not register as a voter, you may not vote on September 8. However, you will have the opportunity to register for the general election on November 3.
The last day to register for this election is October 14, 2015 until 8pm.
Registering as a voter is simple and fast, and you can do at any elections department office, at the post office or the Registry of Motor Vehicles in person or by mail.
Lawrence voters will vote on the residency requirement
