[The following information is from the City Clerk's office.]

Absentee ballots for the Nov. 6, 2012 State Election are now available at the City Clerk’s office. The deadline to vote by absentee ballot is Monday, Nov. 5 at noon.

If a voter is going to be absent from the city during normal polling hours on Election Day, unable to make it to your polling location because of a physical disability or because of religious beliefs, you may cast an absentee ballot.

There are only two ways you can vote by absentee ballot. An absentee ballot can be cast in person at the City Clerk’s office or mailed to the voter.  In order to have an absentee ballot mailed, the City Clerk must first receive a written, signed request or signed absentee ballot application. The application can be mailed or emailed to the voter or downloaded off of the Secretary of State’s website. If a student is away at school or family member is out of the city or state, a family member residing in the same household can fill out an application for the voter called an “Absentee Ballot Application by Family Member.”

Do not wait until the last minute to cast an absentee ballot. If you are not voting in person at the City Clerk's office, give yourself plenty of time to vote. Absentee ballots must be mailed to the voter.

Link to Absentee Ballot Application: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee_ballot.pdf

Link to Absentee Ballot Application by Family Member: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absente_ballot_fam.pdf

If you have any questions whatsoever about voting by absentee ballot, please do not hesitate to call the City Clerk’s office or email tim.spanos@peabody-ma.gov.