Record Turnout For Midterm Elections In MA: Secretary Of State

BOSTON, MA— Voter turnout in Massachusetts for the Nov. 6 midterm election is approaching 2.7 million, exceeding predictions and marking the highest turnout a midterm election has seen in the state in almost a quarter century.

Although not all votes have yet been counted, unofficial results show more voters cast ballots in a midterm election this year than ever before in Massachusetts history, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced Friday.

The number of ballots cast also represents the highest turnout as a percentage in a midterm election in Massachusetts in 24 years.

The previous record midterm was in 1990, when 2.42 million Commonwealth voters cast ballots. The 2014 midterms saw 2.1 million votes cast, while 2.3 million came out in 2010.

The current number is set to continue to rise as local election officials count provisional ballots, military and overseas ballots mailed from outside of the United States according to Galvin's office.

Ballots mailed from overseas are counted if they arrive by Nov. 16, as long as they were postmarked by Election Day. Provisional ballots are cast by voters who do not appear on the list of voters, but who claim to have registered to vote. Provisional ballots are counted after Election Day, if the voter’s eligibility can be confirmed, according to Galvin's office.

Local election officials must certify all results by November 21. Results are then transmitted to the Governor and Governor’s Council, who are expected to meet to certify results on November 28.

Related:

• Election 2018 Ballot Questions: What Passed In MA
• Election Results 2018 in MA

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Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff