Bostonians will bid Menino final farewell at Faneuil Hall

Longtime mayor of Boston Tom Menino, who passed away Thursday, is scheduled to lie in state Sunday at historic Faneuil Hall so residents may pay their respects. Menino had cast an absentee ballot before his death, but election officials say it will not count.

Thousands of Boston residents and others are expected to say their final farewells to longtime beloved Mayor Tom Menino this weekend.

Menino – who died Thursday at age 71 – is scheduled to lie in state Sunday at Faneuil Hall, starting at 10 a.m.

Menino served as mayor of Boston for more than 20 years. Longer than any other mayor in city history. Shortly before his death Menino cast an absentee ballot, but it won't count under state law.

Menino spokeswoman Dot Joyce confirmed Friday that he cast the mail ballot but declined to provide further details, adding that voting and elections were important to the city's longest serving mayor.

Chapter 54, Section 100 of the state General Laws states that a mail ballot cannot be counted if election officers know the voter died before polls open on election day.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Martin Walsh's office confirmed the ballot has already been excluded.

Absentee ballots are cast by those unable to go to polling locations on Election Day, either because they will be out of town, have a physical disability or their religious beliefs prevent them for going to the polls.

A private funeral Mass for family and friends is scheduled for Monday at Most Precious Blood Parish in Hyde Park, Menino's home neighborhood.

Menino is survived by wife, Angela, two children and six grandchildren.