Reunited

Abington’s past and present Town Clerks come together to help manage early voting

With a record number of Abington voters either requesting mail-in ballots or voting early, Town Clerk Leanne Adams has some special assistants managing the extra work; namely her two predeccesors, Patricia McKenna and Linda Adams.

All three Town Clerks were in Abington Town Hall Thursday afternoon processing some of the 4,000 requests for mail-in ballots, as well as helping with the steady stream of Abington voters coming in to cast their ballots early. Just six days into the early voting period, more than 1,200 residents have already voted, said (current Town Clerk) Adams.

“I am grateful for help and support of many,” she said. “I gave Mrs. McKenna a tour of the safe. She just couldn’t believe all that had to be done and organized. When she retired the only other choice was absentee. And now … a voter has many choices.”

Earlier in the week, lines of early voters stretched out the front doors of Town Hall and down the sidewalk.

Adams said she’s noticing a number of new faces, both young and old, turning out to vote. Some people have concerns about trusting the mail to deliver their ballots in time. Others are concerned they could find themselves suddenly quarantined on Election Day. Many are really interested in making sure their vote counts, she said.

For the record, Adams said, the Abington post office has been “amazing,” with the postmaster personally dropping off ballots on some days. After mailing out ballots to residents in one precinct this week, Adams said they started receiving completed ballots back in the mail the next day. Any ballot postmarked by Nov. 3 will be counted, she said.

For those anxious about mail delays, completed ballots can be dropped off in the metal box in front of Town Hall. Adams said the box is checked and emptied multiple times a day.

Saturday is the final day Abington residents can register to vote in this year’s Presidential and State election.

Here are the upcoming times for early voting:

Friday, October 23: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 24: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday, October 25: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday, October 26: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 27: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 28: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 29: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Friday, October 30: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.