Massachusetts

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State of Massachusetts Voting & Elections

Election Day is November 8, 2022

October 19                  Deadline for voter registration

November 1                Deadline to return absentee/mail-in ballot applications

November 8                Deadline to return absentee/mail-in ballots

November 8                Election Day

 

To register to vote in Massachusetts, you must:

  • You are a citizen of the United States; and
  • You are 16 years old; and
  • You are not currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction.

 

How to register to vote:

  • Registering Online: In order to register to vote online, you must have a signature on file with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. If you currently have a Massachusetts driver’s license or state ID card, you may use the online voter registration application to register, update your address, or change your party affiliation. Voter registration forms submitted online must be submitted by midnight on the date of the voter registration deadline.
  • Registering by Mail: If you do not qualify to register to vote online, or if you would prefer to register by mail, you may download the voter registration form by using the link provided in the box to the right. The form must be completed, signed, and delivered to your local election official. Voter registration forms submitted by mail must be postmarked no later than the voter registration deadline.
  • Registering In-person: If you would like to register in-person, you may do so at any local election office, as well as the Elections Divisionof the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office. Voter registration is also available at the Registry of Motor Vehicles and at certain public assistance agencies. Voter registration forms completed in-person are valid as of the day that they are signed.
  • Automatic Voter Registration: If you are a U.S. citizen applying for or renewing a driver’s license or state ID at the RMV, or applying for health insurance through MassHealth or the Commonwealth Health Connector, you will be automatically registered to vote, unless you opt out of registering.

 

Voter ID Requirements

You may be asked to show identification when you check-in at your polling place for any of the following reasons:

  • You are voting for the first time in Massachusetts in a federal election;
  • You are an inactive voter;
  • You are casting a provisional or challenged ballot;
  • The poll worker has a reasonable suspicion that leads them to request identification.

Acceptable identification must include your name and the address at which you are registered to vote. Examples of acceptable identification include: a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, recent utility bill, rent receipt, lease, a copy of a voter registration affidavit, or any other printed identification which contains the voter’s name and address.

 

Voting by Mail

  • Massachusetts voters now have the option to vote early by mail in all elections, with no excuse required. To request your Vote by Mail ballot, submit a signed application to your local election office.
  • If you are a registered voter, you may submit your Vote by Mail application online, through our Mail-in Ballot Application System.
  • To apply by mail, you may use the application postcard sent to you by the Elections Division, or any other signed request. Every voter was sent a Vote by Mail application in July of this year. A second mailing will be sent in September to every voter who hasn’t already applied for a November ballot. These applications are pre-addressed to your local election office and postage pre-paid.
  • If you have not received an application or you need a new one, the Vote by Mail application can also be downloaded or printed from our website. Further, any written request with your signature is an acceptable application. You can simply write a signed letter to your local election office to apply for your ballot.
  • Applications not submitted through the online Mail-in Ballot Application System can be submitted by mail, email, or fax, but they must include a signature that can be compared to your hand-written signature. Electronic signatures, scanned applications, and photos of applications are acceptable.
  • Typed signatures on applications cannot be accepted, unless you are a voter who requires accommodations due to physical disability. If you are unable to sign your application or mark your ballot by hand due to a disability, please visit our page on Voting for Persons with Disabilities for information on requesting an accommodation.

 

Resources

 

Tribes in Massachusetts

Federally recognized tribes

  • Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)
  • Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

State recognized tribes

  • Nipmuc Nation

Native Vote Coordinator

Sign up to be a local Native Vote coordinator.

Brian Weeden
Youth Ambassador
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
(508) 780-9730
proudmashwamp@yahoo.com

Major Party Contact Information

Democrat
Chair, Thomas McGee
www.massdems.org

Republican
Chairman, Kristen Hughes
www.massgop.com

 

Posted in States.