BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The number of ballots cast during the early voting period in Massachusetts is equal to more than 67 percent of all ballots cast in the state in the 2016 election.
According to Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin's office, more than 2.5 million voters in Massachusetts either applied to Vote by Mail or to vote early in-person, and by Saturday afternoon, close to 90 percent of those ballots had been returned.
More than 1.3 million ballot were returned by mail, with around 18,000 coming in since yesterday. Approximately 961,000 ballots were returned in person at early voting locations or drop boxes, with around 27,000 coming in since yesterday.
Officials said the deadline to mail in any ballots has now passed, so anyone with a completed mail-in ballot must return it either in-person, or at a verified dropbox location.
Due to security concerns, the Secretary of the Commonwealth has issued a directive urging all municipalities to empty and lock all ballot drop boxes over Halloween night, no later than 5 p.m. Saturday until 12 p.m. Sunday.
When they are reopened on Sunday November 1st, the drop boxes will be available 24/7 through 8 p.m. Tuesday November 3rd.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App
(Photo: Getty Images)