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Thousands of Springfield residents request ballots ahead of early voting in the state primary

SPRINGFIELD — Early voting is still a relatively new method of exercising the right to vote in Massachusetts. The first election in which residents could choose to cast their ballots early instead of on Election Day was in 2016. A 2014 state law made early voting a mandatory option for all municipalities, be it in person or voting by mail. The state does not differentiate between absentee and vote-by-mail ballots.

Holyoke Tourism Advisory Committee seeks Historic Tourism projects

HOLYOKE — The Tourism Advisory Committee has announced it is accepting proposals for projects in line with the city’s Historic Tourism Plan and through the Mass Gaming Commission’s Community Mitigation Fund, the committee can fund three to five projects of up to $9,500 each for organizations whose projects and initiatives align with enhancing the city’s historic tourism assets.