Thousands of Inactive Braintree Voters Urged to Communicate With Town

The presidential contest on Nov. 6 will likely mean lines at polling places all over town. For some Braintree voters, the wait could be even longer.

Of Braintree's approximately 24,000 voters, more than 4,500 are listed as inactive, meaning they have not voted in several elections nor responded to the town census.

If those residents take no action between now and the election, when they arrive at the polls next month they will be required to fill out an affidavit and present identification.

"It does not mean they are not eligible, it does not mean they are not voters," Town Clerk Joe Powers told the Town Council on Tuesday night, outlining the efforts his office has made so far alerting residents.

On Oct. 11, the clerk mailed nearly 4,900 green notices to inactive voters, urging them to respond to the card by stating they are either living in Braintree at the same address, at a different address, or have moved out of town.

"We expect there to be lines," Powers said. "We just want to make sure they are not standing in lines if they can avoid it."

In addition, all registered voters will receive a postcard at the end of this month telling them their precinct number and voting location. Voters are encouraged to place them on their fridge and bring them along on Nov. 6, Powers said.

Precincts shifted as a result of population changes recorded in Braintree by the 2010 federal census. For more information, go to http://braintree.patch.com/articles/redrawn-braintree-map-shows-new-precinct-names-shifts-in-some-residents-polling-locations.

Tonight at 8 p.m. is the deadline to register to vote in the election. Residents may go to the clerk's office at Town Hall or postmark a written form by Oct. 17, 2012.

Absentee ballots are also still available. Details can be found here: http://braintree.patch.com/articles/absentee-ballots-available-for-november-election.

There will be no school for public students in Braintree on election day. For more on that, go to http://braintree.patch.com/articles/no-school-on-election-day-in-braintree.