
August 19 Coronavirus Update
Recent news around the country about ballots, mail-in voting, and election security in the age of COVID-19 has created significant anxiety and many questions for those who are hoping to make their voices heard in our state primary (September 1) and general (November 3) elections. I have been in contact with my colleagues in the Legislature as well as our Town Clerks about these concerns and I wanted to provide some useful information about voting in a pandemic and hopefully clear up any questions you may have.
In Massachusetts, there are three ways you can vote this fall:
Vote by mail: Anyone registered to vote in Massachusetts can apply for a no-excuse mail-in ballot to vote in the state primary or general elections. You may have received a paper copy of the ballot application in the mail, and you can also download an application online. You must fill out and return an application to receive a mail-in ballot. Once you receive and complete a ballot, you can return it by mail (postmarked by Election Day) or drop it off at your Town Clerk’s office in a secure drop box. You can track your ballot online here.
Vote early in person: Every town in Massachusetts offers early voting periods prior to election day where voters can cast their ballots early in-person. The state primary has 7 days of early voting and the general/presidential election has 14 days. You can find information about early voting hours and locations by town on the Secretary of Commonwealth’s website.
Vote on Election Day: Polls are required to be open from 7am to 8pm in all Massachusetts cities and town on September 1 and November 3. Some towns offer extended voting hours as well – you can view town-by-town election information below. You can look up your ballot and polling location online.
Local town-by-town election information:

Key upcoming dates:
- August 22 – Deadline to register for the state primary election. You can register online.
- August 22-28 – Early in-person voting period. You can find early voting locations and hours by town here.
- August 26 – Deadline to submit an application for a no-excuse mail-in voting ballot.
- September 1 – State primary day. In-person voting occurs until 8pm and you can find your polling location here. If you are mailing in your ballot, it must be postmarked by September 1 and arrive by Friday, September 4. If you are dropping it off, it must be dropped off by Election Day.
- October 24 – Deadline to register for the general state/presidential election.
- October 17-30 – Early in-person voting period.
- October 28 – Deadline to submit an application for a no-excuse mail-in voting ballot for the general election.
- November 3 – General/presidential election day. The same rules for mail-in and drop-off voting apply. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by November 3 and arrive by Friday, November 6.
By providing maximum flexibility to voters, we are working to ensure that even in a pandemic that every resident has the opportunity to cast their ballot in a safe, secure manner. Plan ahead, do your research, and if you have any questions, please contact your Town Clerk.
To receive this newsletter in your inbox, sign up here. Past issues and additional resources can be found at https://carolyndykema.com/covid19.* You can also check my Facebook page for more up-to-the-minute updates and communications. Overall, the state Dept. of Public Health website is the best source of accurate and up-to-date information and contains a wide-range of information and a likely source of answers to many of your questions.
While the State House is closed to the public, my office continues to operate remotely. The best way to reach me or my staff at this busy time is via email at carolyn.dykema@mahouse.gov. We are also available by phone if necessary at 617-722-2680.
New Updates
Coronavirus Testing and Response

- Today, the state saw 262 new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, with 115,048 total cases and 28 reported deaths as of today at 4pm.
- The average new cases over the last 7 days is 264, and the average number of deaths is 14.
- The 7-day weighted average positive test rate in Massachusetts is 1.4%.
- 365 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, a decrease of 9 from yesterday.
- The Department of Public Health regularly releases a daily reporting dashboard containing detailed information on hospitalizations, demographic data, and county-by-county breakdowns of cases. To view the DPH dashboard, visit here.
Heath Care
- Hospital Capacity: As of 8/19, 33% of the Commonwealth’s 12,500 permanent and temporary hospital beds are available for new patients if needed. In the MetroWest region, 34% of the region’s 2,100 beds are available for new patients.
- Long-term care: As of 8/19, there are 379 long-term care facilities with at least one case of COVID-19 and 24,522 staff and residents in facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. 5,662 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in long-term care facilities.
- For information on COVID-19 testing and guidance on whether you should get tested, how to get tested, and where to get tested, visit the COVID-19 testing portal at mass.gov/gettested.
Local Resources
All of the towns in the 8th Middlesex District now have centralized COVID-19 resource pages with resources, updates, and alerts regarding town services.
Holliston | Hopkinton | Southborough | Westborough
The Department of Public Health also releases weekly reports on town-by-town COVID-19 case numbers and rates, which can be found online here.
Resources for Residents Experiencing Job Loss or Loss of Income
COVID-19 is causing broad disruption to the economy which is affecting incomes of many residents and families. There are a number of State resources and supports available to support workers who may find themselves unemployed or otherwise income-constrained during this uncertain time.
Guide for job/income loss resources: https://carolyndykema.com/covid19-state-resources
Department of Unemployment Assistance: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-unemployment-assistance
Department of Transitional Assistance: https://www.mass.gov/dta-covid-19-resources-and-support
Statewide Information
Information on the state of emergency and related orders can be found here.
Reopening guidance can be found at mass.gov/reopening.
Information on COVID-19 testing can be found at mass.gov/gettested.
How You Can Help (updated)
Holliston Youth and Family Services requests your support of the Community Action Fund, which provides emergency assistance to those affected by COVID-19. Learn more or donate here.
Southborough’s Community Fund has supported local COVID-19 response efforts and families impacted by the pandemic, as well as other charitable organizations in Town. Learn more or donate here.
The Westborough Rotary Club has launched a COVID-19 Community Relief Fund to provide assistance to those affected by COVID-19. Learn more or donate here.
The American Red Cross is asking for blood donations, the need for which is significant due to blood drive cancellations. The need is dire due to the cancellation of hundreds of blood drives. People can donate at the Worcester American Red Cross Donor Center, 381 Plantation St. Worcester or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Some local donor sites, including the Natick Senior Center, are available for appointments as well.
Information on our local food pantries can be found below. The most pressing need right now is cash donations to ensure that food drop-off and delivery do not inadvertently contribute to the spread of the virus.
Holliston Pantry Shelf | Project Just Because | Southborough Food Pantry | Westborough Food Pantry
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