More Than 5K Residents Vote Early In Beverly: City Clerk

BEVERLY, MA —It was a frigid, yet rewarding, end to early voting in Beverly as more than 5,000 residents cast their ballots between Oct. 17 and Oct. 30.

Beverly City Clerk Lisa Kent reported that 5,240 residents voted over the 14 days with 629 voting on final day Friday despite the cold and snowy weather. Due to coronavirus protocols, windows were kept open at City Hall amid the freezing winter temperatures.

"You all came in with great spirits and I did not hear one complaint," Kent posted on the City Clerk's Facebook page. "You boosted our team with your great attitudes."

Kent told Patch last week 11,100 of the 15,652 mail-in ballots requested had already been returned as well.

Kent credited the clerk's office staff, Beverly police and the city's registrar captain for making early voting go as smoothly as it did, as well as thanking those who delivered food and well wishes to poll workers and staff.

Kent noted that outstanding mail-in ballots can be dropped off in person at the city clerk's office, as well as drop boxes until designated deadlines. The Beverly Farms Firehouse and Fire headquarters drop boxes were to close Monday at 3 p.m. The drop box will be closed at City Hall at 5 p.m.

After that mail-in ballots must be delivered to the city clerk's office by the time the polls close at 8 p.m.

Mail-in ballots cannot be dropped off at polling locations. Those arriving at polling locations must fill out a ballot through traditional in-person photo procedures.

"Please return your ballot as soon as you can so we can record it and add it to the bins in the vault that will be going to the polls on election station," Kent requested.

Related Patch Coverage: Beverly Early Voting Brisk, Busy, Secure: City Clerk

Voting In Beverly: Everything You Need To Know