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Elections: Absentee Voting

Absentee voters use the same ballots as Vote by Mail voters and have the same deadlines for returning their ballots. Most voters who qualify for an absentee ballot can choose instead to apply for a Vote by Mail ballot. There are some times that an absentee ballot application is needed.

You should fill out an absentee ballot application if:

  • You qualify for an absentee ballot and you are voting in a local election in a city or town that has opted out of Vote by Mail for that election
  • You will be away from your city or town on Election Day
  • You are requesting an emergency absentee ballot due to hospitalization
  • You are currently incarcerated for a reason other than a felony conviction

If you are on active military duty or are a U.S. citizen living outside the U.S, click here.

Absentee Voting: By Mail

The deadline to request an absentee ballot to be mailed to you is 5 PM on the fifth business day before the election. Please file your request early to allow time for your ballot to be mailed to you and for you to return your voted ballot so it reaches Town Hall by close of polls to be counted.

A voter admitted to a health care facility after 12pm on the seventh day before the election can request a hand-delivered Absentee Voting ballot.

Absentee Voting: In-Person

Individuals who qualify to vote absentee may do so in-person at the Town Clerk's office. Typically, ballots are available two to three weeks before the election and are available up until Noon on the day before the election. If the day before the election falls on a holiday, then the deadline becomes the Friday before the election at 5 PM.

Eligibility for Absentee Voting

To qualify to vote absentee, you must be a registered voter who will be unable to vote at the polls on Election Day due to:

  • Absence from Belmont during polling hours,
  • Disability preventing you from voting at the polling location, or
  • Religious beliefs preventing you from voting at the polling location.
Requesting an Absentee Ballot

There are two methods to request an absentee ballot be mailed to you:

  1. Complete, sign and submit an Absentee Ballot Application form to the Belmont Town Clerk's office. The form is available using the link above or at any Town or City Clerk's Office.
  2. Write a letter to the Town Clerk. Be certain to sign your letter and include the following information:
    • current date
    • voter name (as registered)
    • voter address (as registered)
    • date of the election(s) you would like an absentee ballot
    • if your request includes a Primary, indicate a party ballot (Democratic or Republican)
    • mailing address
    • signature

Send your written request (application form or letter) by any ONE of the following methods:

  1. By email to voting@belmont-ma.gov (send PDF or clear photo of signed form or letter)
  2. By fax to (617) 993-2601
  3. By drop-box located outside the entrance to the Town Hall Building (facing the driveway). 
  4. By mail to: Belmont Town Clerk, Town Hall, PO Box 56, Belmont, MA 02478

A family member may also apply for a voter using the Absentee Ballot Application and checking off the first box under Special Circumstances.

Overview of Absentee Voting Process

All Absentee Ballot requests must be made in writing and signed. Absentee ballots are sent out in the order in which requests are received. Please provide a phone number and/or email address in case a question arises as we prepare your ballot. Absentee ballot requests can be for a specific election date or for the rest of the calendar year. All absentee requests expire December 31st.

When the voter receives the absentee ballot in the mail, the voter should mark the ballot, complete & sign the inner affidavit envelope and, as soon as possible, seal the ballot inside the inner envelope and return the voted ballot to the Town Clerk's office. Voted absentee ballots may not be brought directly to precinct polling places.

Voted ballots may be returned by mail or dropped off by the voter or a family member at the Town Clerk’s Office before the polls close. Ballots received after the polls close cannot be counted.