NORTHAMPTON — Thousands of mail-in ballots have been sent out to voters in communities in Hampshire County, southern Franklin County and in Holyoke in advance of the Nov. 5 presidential election, with many of them already completed and returned, either via the post office or municipal drop boxes.

Compared to during the 2020 presidential election, though, held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer voters are seeking the mail-in option this time around. How that will affect turnout during in-person early voting, which starts Saturday and continues at various times over the course of two weeks throughout Massachusetts, comes with uncertainty, even as clerks anticipate more people coming to the polls than did so in the lead-up to the state primary in September.

In Northampton, 7,400 of the city’s 20,300 registered voters sought the mail-in option for the presidential election, and 2,121 of those ballots are already back, said City Clerk Pamela Powers. In 2020, 10,072 people used the mail-in option.

Powers said any predictions she might offer about early voting likely wouldn’t be accurate. “However, it would be great to see voters come out during the early voting period, which is 14 days starting on Oct. 19,” Powers said.

For anyone 18 or older as of Nov. 5, the city will have dedicated parking on Crafts Avenue so they can get to the accessible entrance at the side of City Hall and can use the elevator to get to the Hearing Room, the only early voting polling location. The last day to request an early vote ballot be mailed is Oct. 29 at 5 p.m.

Easthampton has about 13,000 registered voters, with City Clerk Barbara LaBombard mailing out 4,444 ballots to those who requested them. So far, about 1,800 of them have been returned.

LaBombard, who will be in the office as early voting begins Saturday at the Municipal Building, said mail-in voting does reduce turnout at the polls. “The by-mail voting has definitely decreased the number of people doing in-person early voting,” LaBombard said.

In Amherst, 5,500 ballots were mailed out to the town’s 14,500 registered voters, with about 1,000 returned, said Town Clerk Susan Audette. That is well down from the 9,000 mailed out before the presidential election four years ago. 

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“I think more people will be voting in person and on Election Day this year,” Audette said. “People will be coming out, so it will be much busier than in September.”

The main draw for many voters in presidential election years is the race to be the next commander in chief, with Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump at the top of the Democratic and Republican tickets, respectively. Other candidates for president on the ballot include Independent Shiva Ayyadurai, Party for Socialism and Liberation candidate Claudia De la Cruz, Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver and Green-Rainbow Party nominee Jill Stein.

For the U.S. Senate, Massachusetts voters will choose between incumbent Democrat Elizabeth Warren and Republican nominee John Deaton of Swansea.

The vast majority of voters in western Massachusetts are part of the 8th District for the Governor’s Council, with incumbent Democrat Tara Jacobs of North Adams running unopposed. The Governor’s Council provides advice and consent on topics such as the confirmation of judges and commutation of sentences.

Ballots in 2nd Congressional District communities, including Northampton, Amherst, Hadley, Hatfield, Chesterfield, Goshen, Pelham, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Deerfield, Leverett, Shutesbury, Sunderland and Whately, will give voters the option of voting for either longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, or Cornelius Shea, an independent candidate from Shrewsbury.

Voters in Easthampton, Belchertown, South Hadley, Granby, Cummington, Huntington, Middlefield, Plainfield, Southampton, Worthington and Ware will instead help decide the 1st Congressional District race between longtime incumbent Democrat Richard Neal and independent Nadia Milleron of Sheffield.

The only contested race in the region for state representatives is in the 4th Hampden District, which includes Southampton and Westfield.  There, incumbent state Rep. Kelly Pease, R-Westfield, is seeking reelection against Democrat Bridget Matthews-Kane of Westfield.

Incumbent state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, is unopposed in the 1st Hampshire District, which includes Northampton, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Hatfield, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington.

Incumbent state Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, is unopposed in the 3rd Hampshire District, which includes Amherst and half of Granby; while incumbent state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, is unopposed in the 1st Franklin District, which includes Deerfield, Leverett, Sunderland and Whately; and incumbent state Rep. Aaron Saunders, D-Ludlow, is unopposed in the7th Hampden District, which includes Belchertown, Pelham and Shutesbury.

Incumbent state Rep. Patricia Duffy, D-Holyoke, is unopposed in the 5th Hampden District, which includes the city of Holyoke.

Aside from Matthews-Kane, the only other newcomer to the ballots for state representative is Democrat Homar Gomez of Easthampton, who is seeking to succeed state Rep. Dan Carey in the 2nd Hampshire District representing Easthampton, South Hadley, Hadley and half of Granby.

In the Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire District, Democrat incumbent Paul Mark of Pittsfield is facing a challenge from Republican David Rosa, a Dighton resident who said he plans to move to the district before Election Day. The district includes Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Worthington and Whately.

Democratic state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, is running unopposed again for the 25-community Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District, which includes Northampton, Amherst, Hadley, Hatfield, Pelham, South Hadley, Deerfield, Leverett, Shutesbury, Sunderland and Whately.

Incumbent state Sen. Jacob Oliveira, D-Ludlow, is unopposed in the Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester District, which includes Belchertown, Granby and South Hadley; while incumbent state Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, is unopposed in the Hampden and Hampshire District, which includes Holyoke, Easthampton and Southampton.

Outgoing state Rep. Dan Carey is the lone candidate for clerk of courts for Hampshire County, while in the Franklin County towns, the clerk of courts candidate is Benjamin Simanski of Greenfield, and on Holyoke’s ballot will be incumbent Hampden County Clerk of Courts Laura Gentile.

Incumbent Register of Deeds Mary Olberding will be on Hampshire County ballots and incumbent Register of Deeds Scott Cote will be on Franklin County ballots.

But incumbent Hampden County Register of Deeds Cheryl Coakley-Rivera, a Democrat from Springfield, is being challenged by Bob Collamore, an independent from Springfield. That contest will be on Holyoke ballots.

Only Hampshire County voters will vote on register of probate, where Mark Smith Ames is seeking the vacancy.

In Franklin County, incumbent Council of Governments Executive Committee member Jay DiPucchio, a Democrat, is running for reelection unopposed.

Five ballot questions will come before all Massachusetts voters.

The first proposes giving the state auditor the authority to audit the Legislature.

Question 2 proposes eliminating the requirement that a student must pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test to receive a high school diploma. Instead, students would need to complete coursework certified by their school district that demonstrates mastery of subjects contained in the state’s academic standards.

Question 3 would allow drivers for ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft to form unions to collectively bargain with their companies regarding wages, benefits, and terms and conditions of work.

Question 4 would allow limited legalization and regulation of certain natural psychoactive substances in the state, allowing them to be grown, possessed and used by those age 21 or older.

Question 5 would gradually increase the minimum hourly wage for tipped workers from $6.75, excluding tips, to $15, excluding tips, over the course of five years. Currently, if a tipped worker’s $6.75 hourly wage plus their tips do not add up to a $15 per hour wage, their employer is required to pay them the difference. This would still be the case through the end of 2028, should the measure pass. The proposed law would permit employers to calculate this difference over the entire weekly or biweekly payroll period.

Early voting hours

Northampton: City Hall, 210 Main St. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Oct.21 to 25, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Easthampton: Municipal Building, 50 Payson Ave. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 21 to 24, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 28 to 31, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to noon.

Amherst: Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Ave. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 21 to 25, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Holyoke: City Hall, 536 Dwight St. Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 21 to 25, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Oct. 26, 1 to 5 p.m.; Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

South Hadley: Town Hall, 116 Main St. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 21 to Oct. 25, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Belchertown: Town Hall, 2 Jabish St. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oct. 21 to 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chesterfield: Town Office, 422 Main Road. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 21, 5 to 8 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 28, 5 to 8 p.m.

Cummington: Community House, Main Street. Saturday, 9 to 11 a.m; Oct. 26, 3 to 5 p.m.; Oct. 28, 8 to 11:30 a.m.

Deerfield: Town Hall, 8 Conway St. Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m.; Oct. 21 through Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 28 through Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Goshen: John James Memorial Hall, 42 Main St. Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Granby: Carnegie Building, 1 Library Lane. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 21 to Oct. 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to noon; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 28 to 31, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to noon.

Hadley: Town Hall, 100 Middle St. Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Oct. 21 to 25, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Oct. 28 to Oct. 30, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Nov. 1, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Hatfield: Memorial Town Hall, 59 Main St. Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 21, 22, 24 and 26, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Oct. 28, 29 and 31, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Huntington: Town Hall, 24 Russell Road. Saturday 9 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.; Oct. 21, 6 to 8 p.m.; Oct. 22, 10 a.m. to noon; Oct. 23, 6 to 8 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 28, 6 to 8p.m.; Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to noon; Oct. 30, 6 to 8 p.m.

Leverett: Town Hall, 9 Montague Road. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 21 through Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 28 through Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Middlefield: Town Hall, 188 Skyline Trail. Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.; Oct. 28, 1 to 6 p.m. 

Pelham: Rhodes Building, 351 Amherst Road. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 21 to Oct. 24, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 28 to Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Plainfield: Town Office, 304 Main St. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 22, 5 to 7 p.m.; Oct. 24, 6 to 8 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 29, 5 to 7 p.m.; Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to noon.

Shutesbury: Town Hall, 1 Cooleyville Road. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.; Oct. 21, Oct. 22 and Oct. 23, noon to 2 p.m.; Oct. 24 and 25, 4 to 6 p.m.; Oct. 26, noon to 5 p.m.; Oct. 28, Oct. 29 and Oct. 30, noon to 2 p.m.; Oct. 31, 4 to 6 p.m.; and Nov. 1, noon to 2 p.m.

Southampton: Senior Center, 210 College Highway. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 21 to 24, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 28 to 31, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunderland: Town Offices, 12 School St. Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon; Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Oct. 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 23, 9 to 3:30 p.m.; Oct. 24, 9 a.m. to noon; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 28, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Oct. 29, Oct. 30 and Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Ware: Town Hall, 126 Main St. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 21 to 25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Westhampton: Town Hall, 1 South Road. Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Oct. 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Whately: Town Offices, 4 Sandy Lane. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.; Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 22, Oct. 23 and Oct. 24 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 26 and Oct. 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 29, Oct. 30 and Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Williamsburg: Town Office, 141 Main St. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 21, 9 to 11 a.m.; Oct. 22, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Oct. 23, 4:30 to 7 p.m.; Oct. 24, 5 to 8 p.m.; Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Oct. 28, 9 to 11 a.m.; Oct. 29, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Oct. 30, 4:30 to 7 p.m.; Oct. 31, 5 to 8 p.m.

Worthington: Town Hall, 160 Huntington Road. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Oct. 21, 22, 24 and 25, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Oct. 28, 29, 31 and Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.