by Election officials reported that clerical problems have already hampered the next Boston mayoral preliminary election, following ballot shortages that plagued the previous year’s poll.
According to a representative for Commonwealth Secretary William Galvin, at least one voter received multiple mail-in ballots for the next municipal preliminary election.
Voters in Boston will choose between candidates for city councilors and mayor.
After an inquiry revealed that the Boston Election Commission had major communication problems and had not supplied enough ballots to polling stations for the election last November, Galvin ordered a reform of the organization last year. A designee was subsequently designated by Galvin to supervise the mayoral election process until the end of 2026; the order may be extended.
According to Galvin’s office spokesman Debra O. Malley, a voter had complained to the office about receiving multiple ballots. According to O Malley, the Boston Election Department conducted an examination of its records at the secretary’s request in order to ascertain the magnitude of the clerical error.
According to O. Malley, the clerical error seems to have only affected a few ballots that were packaged on July 29.
A voter may have gotten more than one ballot in a small number of cases, according to the Boston Elections Department. Due to a clerical error, these instances were limited to ballots mailed on a specific day.
However, O Malley stated—and the city agreed—that voters would not be permitted to cast two ballots. A voter will be noted as having cast a ballot on the voter list if their mail-in ballot is returned and accepted.
According to O Malley, each voter will only have one ballot tallied. A second ballot would be rejected right away if it were returned. Additionally, before any mail-in ballots are examined and counted, they must be compared to the voter list once again.
Mayor, at-large city councilor, District 7 among contested Boston races this year
The preliminary municipal election registration date is August 30. Early voting is held from August 30 to September 5, except Labor Day. Sept. 9 is the actual voting day.
The top eight candidates for the at-large ballot, the top two candidates for mayor, and the top two candidates for city councilors in each district will advance to the main election on November 4 following the preliminary vote.
Josh Kraft, Mayor Michelle Wu’s main opponent, told the Boston Herald that he had major worries about the city’s ability to handle anything linked to the election and that the secretary of state may need to have even more oversight. Kraft did not respond to a request for comment.
With the exception of former District 7 City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who resigned after entering a guilty plea to two federal crimes, the majority of the current district city councilors are vying for their own seats. To succeed her is a crowded field.
The city has announced that Districts 3, 6, 8, and 9 will not have a preliminary election.
Former City Councilor Frank Baker is joining the four incumbent at-large city councilors who are running to retake their positions.
Wu’s office sent a statement from the Boston Elections Department, and Wu’s campaign declined to respond.
Molly Farrar works for Boston.com as a general assignment reporter, covering topics such as politics, crime, and education.
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