State of Massachusetts Voting & Elections

Election Day is November 5

October 19 First day of in-person early voting

October 26 Deadline for voter registration

October 29 Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot

November 1 Last day of in-person early voting

November 5 Deadline for mail-in ballots to be returned in person or by drop box by 8 p.m.

November 5 Election Day

November 8 Deadline for mail-in ballots returned by domestic mail by 5 p.m. (must be postmarked by Election Day)

To register to vote in Massachusetts, you must:

You are a citizen of the United States; and
You are 16 years old to register, but must be 18 to vote; and
You are not currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction.

How to register to vote:

Registering Online: If you have a signature on file with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, you can register online. You can also pre-register, update your address, update your name, and change your political party designation.Voter registration forms submitted online must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the date of the voter registration deadline.
Registering by Mail: You can register or pre-register to vote with a mail-in voter registration form. Print, fill out, and sign the voter registration form. Mail the signed form to your local election office. Your voter registration form must be postmarked by the voter registration deadline.If you are registering to vote in Massachusetts for the first time, you should include a copy of identification that shows your name and address with your form. If you don’t include a copy of your ID, you may need to show it the first time you vote.
Registering In-person: If you would like to register in-person, you may do so at your local town clerks, election commission, Boards of Registrars, The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division, and The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s regional offices. 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, learner’s permit, 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.

Voter ID Requirements

When you reach the check-in table, give the poll worker your address and your name. 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;
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.

Visit VoteRiders for more information on voter ID requirements in Massachusetts.

Voting by Mail

In most elections in Massachusetts, you can choose whether you prefer to vote in person or by mail.

No-excuse early voting by mail is available for:

State elections
State primaries
Presidential primaries
Most local elections

While early Vote by Mail ballots are more common, there are special circumstances where you may need to use the Absentee Ballot application to apply for an absentee ballot instead. Find more information about absentee ballot eligibility here.

How to apply for a mail-in ballot:

Online: If you are a registered voter, you may submit your Vote by Mail application online, through our Mail-in Ballot Application System.
By mail: Every voter was sent a Vote by Mail application. 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.
Email or Fax: Applications can be submitted by 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. Your local election official CANNOT accept a typed signature, unless you’re a voter who needs an accommodation due to physical disability.

There are several options for returning your ballot. You may return your ballot by:

Mailing it back using the envelope provided
Hand-delivering your ballot to your local election office
Dropping your ballot off at an early voting location during early voting hours
Using a ballot drop box.

Early In-Person Voting

In Massachusetts, you can vote early in all statewide elections. You don’t need an excuse to cast an early ballot. You can vote at any early voting location in your city or town. Local officials must have at least one early voting site within the community.

The early voting schedule for your community will be set by your local election official. Contact your local election office for information about early voting in local elections.

Resources

Tribes in Massachusetts

Federally recognized tribes

Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

State recognized tribes

Nipmuc Nation

Native Vote Coordinator

Major Party Contact Information

Democrat
Chair, Steve Kerrigan
www.massdems.org

Republican
Chair, Amy Carnevale
www.massgop.com