BY SAMANTHA CHANEY

LAWRENCE- The Secretary of State’s office released data Friday showing more than 1.6 million registered voters in Massachusetts cast early ballots. In Lawrence, turnout was low.

Low early voting turnout

Friday was the last day to vote early in the state, and only 7,493 people in the city voted early. That means 15.2 percent of its registered voters cast their ballots in person or by mail.

“I just said I don’t really want to go that day and take a day off work. So, I just mailed it in,” Edward Nunez told WBZ.

He believes language barriers could be a reason why more people did not take advantage of the early voting option.

Rachid Doukali said he’s just waiting until Election Day, “Because for me, it’s like a special day for the nation, for America.”

According to the secretary of state’s office, only 17.8 percent of registered voters in Chelsea cast early ballots.

“I think people don’t always know they can or understand they can,” Kerry Williams said.

She says she will vote in person on November 5th.

“After what happened in the last election cycle, there were a lot of issues about whether or not the ballots were accurate if they were sent in early. That was a big part of the issue on January 6,” Williams said. “It matters to me that I show up in person to vote because my vote is not for the person who caused this.”

Mail in ballots

The deadline for early voting has passed, but people can still send in their postal ballot until November 5. Otherwise, you can vote in person at the polling station on election day.