Galvin predicts turnout will top 2020’s record

Secretary of State Bill Galvin said Monday that he expects voter turnout in Massachusetts for the 2024 election to exceed that of 2020. record-setting attendance numbers.

About 1.7 million voters in Massachusetts have already cast their ballots by early voting and by ballot, Galvin said, a number that is expected to grow as the state receives and processes more mail-in ballots. Nearly 3.7 million people voted in the state during the 2020 presidential election, when President Biden defeated former President Donald Trump’s bid to remain in the White House.

“We’re ready for this election — we’ve seen a remarkable turnout in terms of public participation, and we think people appreciate the options they’re being presented with,” Galvin said during a news conference at the State House.

“However, I think we will see more people who have participated so far,” he added. “To that extent, I believe we will exceed our record attendance from 2020.”

He attributed the increased voter interest primarily to the presidential election. While Massachusetts is a safe blue state, where Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats they are heavily favored to wininterest in the presidential race has reached an all-time high turnout throughout the country. In North Carolina, for example, a key battleground, more than half of the state’s registered voters voted early by Sunday morningofficials said.

There are also elections hot questions to the vote on topics ranging from MCAS test requirement for high school students to raising the minimum wage for tipped service workers. Groups have collectively spent millions on advertising campaigns and other advocacy efforts calling attention to the five questions on the Massachusetts ballot.

Galvin, who is the longest serving US election administrator, also preemptively responded to election integrity concerns that have proliferated since former President Donald Trump falsely claimed the 2020 election was stolen from him. He praised election officials in other states for handling “very sensitive, intense” elections.

“I may not agree with the policies and procedures of other states, I may certainly not agree with their choice of candidates, but I can tell you that the people who administer elections in the United States are people of integrity,” said he. “They are honest people and the accounts they present are honest accounts.

His comments came as election officials across the country have seen increasing hostility in the middle widespread, unfounded beliefs that the 2020 presidential election was riddled with voter fraud. Conservative groups have already prepared contest the election results in key states.

Galvin said his office has not seen “any specific issues” so far this year, including physical threats, but stressed that police officers are stationed at polling stations to deter any potential threats of political violence.

While early voting and voter registration are now closed, polls will be open from 7am to 8pm on Tuesday. Voters who are in line until 20:00 can vote.

Galvin said voters who choose to vote by mail and have not yet returned their ballots should drop them off in a drop box or at their city’s election offices — and not in the regular mail — to ensure there are no problems with receiving their votes. Postal ballots cannot be accepted at polling stations.

Anjali Huynh can be reached at [email protected].