A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a recommendation from the Board of Election Commissioners for the City Council to vote to authorize in-person early voting for the December 14, 2021 Special State Primary, in accordance with Chapter 255 of the Acts of 2020, as amended by Chapter 5 of the Acts of 2021 and Chapter 29 of the Acts of 2021

1 CITY OF CAMBRIDGE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS 51 Inman Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 ▪ Telephone [phone removed] ▪ TTY: [phone removed] Fax: [phone removed] ▪ Email: Elections2@cambridgema.gov ▪ Website: www.cambridgema.gov/election COMMISSIONERS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ethridge A. King, Jr. Tanya L. Ford-Crump Larry W. Ward Charles J. Marquardt ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Victoria A. Harris Lesley Waxman To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager From: Board of Election Commissioners Date: November 17, 2021 Re: RECOMMENDATION FOR IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 255 of the Acts of 2020, as amended by Chapter 5 of the Acts of 2021 and Chapter 29 of the Acts of 2021, upon the request and recommendation of the Board of Election Commissioners the City Council must vote whether to authorize early voting in-person for any municipal election held on or before December 15, 2021. The section reads: “Notwithstanding section 25B of chapter 54 of the General Laws or any other general or special law or municipal ordinance to the contrary, upon a recorded and public vote by the select board, board of selectmen, town council or city council authorizing early in-person voting, any eligible voter of such municipality may vote early in-person for any regular or special municipal or state preliminary, primary or general election held on or before December 15, 2021. Such vote may only be taken after a request from the city or town clerk or authorized local election official recommending in-person early voting and provided that such vote occurs not less than 5 business days prior to the proposed beginning of early voting and that such early in-person voting complies with the following: (i) A city or town, as part of the vote to allow early voting in-person, may set the early voting period to begin no sooner than 10 days before the election and end no later than the business day preceding the business day before the election. (ii) Early voting shall be conducted during the usual business hours of the city or town clerk unless different hours are set as part of the vote, including any weekend hours. (iii) The city or town clerk shall establish an early voting site that is centrally located, suitable and in a convenient public building. Notice of the early voting location, dates and hours must be posted at least 48 weekday hours before the early voting period begins.

2 (iv) A qualified voter voting early in person shall be provided with a ballot and an envelope where the ballot is placed after voting which contains an affidavit of compliance to be filled out by the voter. A qualified voter voting early in person shall complete an affidavit under the regulations promulgated by the state secretary for the administration of early voting and appearing at 950 CMR 47.00, as applicable, which shall include a notice of penalties under” section 26 of chapter 56 of the General Laws.” In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 255 of the Acts of 2020, as amended, the board recommends early in-person voting begin on Monday, December 6, 2021 and end on Friday, December 10, 2021 during the hours and at the location as indicated below. RECOMMENDED EARLY VOTING LOCATION, DATES AND HOURS Cambridge Election Commission Office, 51 Inman Street At a meeting held on Friday, November 12, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. the Board of Election Commissioners voted 3 in favor, 0 against, and 1 absent to submit this request recommending that the City Council vote to authorize early in-person voting and the early voting location, dates and hours for the December 14, 2021, Special State Primary. If authorized by the Council, the Board and the Executive Director will comply with the provisions of Chapter 255 of the Acts of 2020, as amended. The City of Cambridge Board of Election Commissioners respectfully submits this report to the City Council for review and determination. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday December 6 December 7 December 8 December 9 December 10 8:30 a.m.–8 pm 8:30 am– 5 pm 8:30 a.m. - 5 pm 8:30 am- 5 pm 8:30 am-12 pm