Massachusetts elections, 2013
Contents |
| On the 2013 ballot |
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Exceptions include special elections. Find current election news and links here. |
2013 elections
Special elections
State House 8th Suffolk District
- Shortly after being sworn in for a 5th term, Martha Walz (D) announced she was resigning to head the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. A special election has been called for June 25.[1] A primary will take place on May 28. Candidates had until April 23 to file certified nomination papers with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.[2]
- Related: See election information here.
- See also: Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2013.
U.S. Senate
- A special election will be held to fill the vacancy left by the appointment of Senator John Kerry (D) as U.S. Secretary of State is scheduled for June 25, 2013, following a primary election on April 30, 2013.[3][4] On January 30, 2013, Mo Cowan was appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick to fill the vacancy. Cowan, a Democrat who previously served as Patrick's Chief of Staff, will serve as interim Senator until voters choose Kerry's official successor in the June 25 special election.[5][6][7] On December 21, 2012, President Barack Obama announced that he was nominating Kerry to the position of Secretary of State. On January 29, 2013, the Senate confirmed Kerry's appointment by a vote of 94-3. He will officially succeed Secretary Hillary Clinton on Friday, Feb 1.[8][9]
State Senate First Suffolk District
- Sen. John A. Hart, Jr. (D) announced on January 28, 2013 that he was resigning his seat in order to take a job at a law firm.[10] A special election has been called for May 28. A primary will take place on April 30.[11] Candidates had until March 6 to file certified nomination papers with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.[12]
- Related: See election information here.
- See also: Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2013.
State House 12th Essex District
- Just weeks after her re-election, state Rep. Joyce Spiliotis (D) died on November 29, 2012. A special election to fill the seat was held on April 2, with a primary on March 5. Leah Cole defeated Gregory S. Bunn in the Republican primary and will advance to the general election.[13][14][15]
- Related: See election results here.
- See also: Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2013.
State House 28th Middlesex District
- State Rep. Stephen Smith (D) resigned on December 31, 2012, after pleading guilty to casting invalid absentee ballots in 2009 and 2010. A special election to fill the seat was held on April 2, with a primary on March 5. Wayne A. Matewsky defeated four others in the Democratic primary and will advance to the general election.[16][17][18]
- Related: See election results here.
- See also: Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2013.
Voting absentee
- See also: Absentee Voting
Eligibility
You are eligible to vote absentee in an election if you cannot make it to the polls on election day for one of the following reasons:
- you will be absent from your city or town on election day, and/or
- you have a physical disability that prevents your voting at the polling place, and/or
- you cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs
Deadlines
To vote absentee a request must be received by noon on the day before the election. The ballot must then be returned by 8pm on election day.
Military and overseas voting
For full details, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program here.
Voting early
- See also: Early voting
Massachusetts is one of 8 states which allow early voting but require an excuse to vote early. Early voting begins as soon as absentee ballots become available.
To vote early you need to provide an excuse for why you will be unable to vote at the polls during normal voting hours. The following are valid reasons:
- you will be away from your city or town on election day
- you have a disability that prevents you from voting at the polls
- you cannot vote on election day due to religious beliefs
Voting absentee
- See also: Absentee Voting
Eligibility
All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Kansas. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.
Deadlines
To vote absentee, an absentee ballot application must be received by the election office between 90 and 4 days prior to the election. A returned absentee ballot must then be received by the elections office by 7pm on election day.
Military and overseas voting
For full details, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program here.
Voting early
- See also: Early voting
Massachusetts is one of 8 states which allow early voting but require an excuse to vote early. Early voting begins as soon as absentee ballots become available.
To vote early you need to provide an excuse for why you will be unable to vote at the polls during normal voting hours. The following are valid reasons:
- you will be away from your city or town on election day
- you have a disability that prevents you from voting at the polls
- you cannot vote on election day due to religious beliefs
Elections Performance Index
Massachusetts ranked 33rd out of the 50 states and District of Columbia in the Pew Charitable Trusts' Elections Performance Index (EPI), based on the 2010 elections. The EPI examines election administration performance assigning an average percentage score based on 17 indicators of election performance. The indicators were chosen within the framework of determining the convenience and integrity of each of the three administrative phases of an election: registration, voting and counting. Massachusetts received an overall score of 63%.[19]
See also
References
- ↑ Boston Globe, "State Rep. Martha Walz to lead Planned Parenthood," January 30, 2013
- ↑ Boston.com "Dates set for special election to replace state Rep. Marty Walz," February 7, 2013
- ↑ Boston.com "Secretary of state to set Senate special election date of June 25," January 28, 2013
- ↑ The Boston Globe, "William ‘Mo’ Cowan to be interim US senator," January 30, 2013
- ↑ The New York Times "Governor Names Longtime Friend to Kerry’s Seat" January 30, 2013
- ↑ Washington Post "Who is Mo Cowan?" January 30, 2013
- ↑ The Boston Globe, "William ‘Mo’ Cowan to be interim US senator," January 30, 2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "John Kerry confirmed as secretary of state," January 29, 2013
- ↑ CBS News "Obama taps John Kerry to be Secretary of State," December 21, 2012
- ↑ Boston Globe, "Hart set to quit state Senate today," January 29, 2013
- ↑ Boston.com, "Dates set for Mass. state senate special election," February 5, 2013
- ↑ Massachusetts Secretary of State, "Special State Election First Suffolk Senate District," Accessed April 9, 2013
- ↑ TheRepublic.com, "Candidates set for special elections to fill 2 vacant Mass. House seats," March 7, 2013
- ↑ Peabody Patch, "Special Election to Choose Spiliotis' Successor Unlikely to be Set Until 2013," November 30, 2012
- ↑ bostonglobe.com, "Newcomer, political veteran win Mass. House elections," April 3, 2013
- ↑ TheRepublic.com, "Candidates set for special elections to fill 2 vacant Mass. House seats," March 7, 2013
- ↑ Boston Herald, "Lawmaker in voting scandal quits office," January 1, 2013
- ↑ bostonglobe.com, "Newcomer, political veteran win Mass. House elections," April 3, 2013
- ↑ Pew Charitable Trusts, Election Performance Index Report
