Cambridge Voters Warned About Mail-in Ballot Error

Some residents may have received a defective ballot with duplicate copies of a page.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Oct 19, 2026 4:29 PM EDT

CAMBRIDGE, MA — The Election Commission is alerting residents about a possible error involving some vote-by-mail ballot packets sent ahead of the State Election.

According to the commission, some pre-made packets provided by the Commonwealth may contain two copies of page one of the ballot rather than pages one and two.

Residents who received one of the incorrect packets should contact the Cambridge Election Commission at 617-349-4361 or via email for assistance. The commission did not specify how many voters may have been affected or whether replacement ballots were already being distributed.

The State Election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The deadline to request a Vote by Mail ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 5 p.m.

In-person early voting is also underway at the Cambridge Water Department, Main Library and Valente Library. The early voting period will remain open through Friday, Oct. 30, at noon.

Mail ballots returned in person or through an official drop box must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots returned through the mail must be postmarked by Nov. 3.