North Shore Neighbors Split On Voting By Mail, In-Person

SALEM, MA – With Secretary of State William Galvin saying more than 1.6 million registered voters have already requested mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3 general election, North Shore residents are split on whether to place their votes via mail or head to the polls on Election Day.

In response to a Patch question, those saying they intend to vote by mail cited coronavirus concerns with some noting being older makes them more prone to virus symptoms, while those planning to vote in-person said it was because they felt more confident their vote will definitely be counted.

"Just moved to Salem and the first piece of snail mail I got was my confirmation of my voter registration in Salem," said one Patch Neighbor from Salem. "I voted in the primary by mail and I appreciated the easy drop of at one of the local fire stations. I will do the same in the national election as I am technically elderly and am caring for a new grand baby."

"I applied to vote by mail, and did so before the politicians started widely discussing it as a solution to people getting infected at voting booths," another Salem Patch Neighbor said,
"because A) pandemic, and I'm high risk, and B) the current administration's mishandling of the USPS."

Galvin said on Monday that mail-in ballots are due to arrive to all cities and towns this week and it's his goal to have those ballots mailed and received by voters who have requested them by the end of the week.

Yet, while Galvin insists mail-in voting will be secure, not all residents are convinced. President Donald Trump has been a very public critic of mail-in voting even though there have been very few documented cases that it leads to voter fraud.

"In person," a Salem Patch Neighbor insisted. "Do not trust mail-in ballots. Just look at what happened during the Massachusetts primary — 18,000 ballots rejected."

Almost 2 percent of all mail-in ballots cast in the state primary were rejected for reasons ranging from late delivery to missing signatures. That means more than 98 percent of the 814,013 mail-in ballots were properly counted, and most that were rejected appeared to be due to some form of voter error.

"Look, if you can go to the grocery store, you can go in person to vote," a Salem Patch Neighbor reasoned. "You only go to vote a couple of times per year where you have to go grocery shopping every week (or) every other week."

Galvin said Monday: "No voter should have to compromise their safety to participate in this election, and I don’t believe anyone will."

Some North Shore residents agree.

"I’m voting by mail," a Peabody Patch Neighbor said. "I'm 76 so trying to keep the odds in my favor."

Related Patch Election Coverage: Massive Demand On Mail-In Voting For Expected Record Election

2 Percent Of Mail-In Ballots Were Rejected In State Primary