Massachusetts

Land Acknowledgement

Massachusetts is the ancestral and current home of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) of Massachusetts, and the Nipmuc Nation. It is also the traditional home of many tribes.

Overview

You can register to vote by mail, in person, or online. The deadline to register is November 1 at 5PM. You do not need to provide an ID when voting unless it is your first time voting in Massachusetts.

Key Dates

October 22 – Early voting beings

October 29 – Voter registration deadline

November 1 – Deadline to request an absentee ballot

November 4- Early voting ends

November 8 – Election Day!

Contacts

Find and contact your local Elections Office here.
Contact the Elections and Voting Division at (617) 727-2828
Contact the ACLU of Massachusetts at (617) 482-3170

Massachusetts Voting Guide

Note: The information below is not legal advice on how to vote. Because voting information is changing rapidly during this election, make sure you check the links provided and check with your state about deadlines and voting specifics.

Registering to Vote

The deadline to register to vote is October 29. If you are a new citizen who was naturalized after October 29, you may register to vote in person at your local election office until 4PM on the day before the election.
No.
You must provide either your Massachusetts driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have either of these, you may provide a copy of a current and valid photo identification, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document showing your name and address.
Massachusetts requires you provide the address where you live. This can be a rural route number and box number. If you cannot describe your address as a street or rural number, you may draw the location of the place you live on the map provided.
Contact your local Elections Office. Find information here.
You do not need an ID to register to vote in Massachusetts. However, if you would like an ID you can get a driver's license or State ID from your local Registry of Motor Vehicles office. Find more information here.
Yes. You can register to vote here.
No.
Yes. You can register to vote in person at any local Elections Office or at the Elections Division of 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. Find local Elections information here.
Yes. You can print your registration form and mail it to your local Election Office. Find the registration form here. Find mailing addresses here.
Yes. If you are currently incarcerated for a reason other than a felony conviction you may register to vote. If you have been convicted of a felony, your voting rights are automatically restored upon release from prison.
Contact your local Elections Office. Find their information here.
The deadline to register to vote is October 29. If you are a new citizen who was naturalized after the last day to register to vote, you may register to vote in person at your local election office until 4PM on the day before the election.
Yes, under federal law you can assist someone in registering to vote if they do not speak English well, if they have trouble reading or writing, or if they have a disability.

Checking & Updating Voter Registration

Check your voter registration status here.
Contact your local Elections Office to check your voter registration. Find their information here.
You can update your registration by submitting a new registration form to your local Elections Office. If you move after the deadline to register to vote in a state election or primary, you should wait to update your registration until after the date of the election or primary, and return to vote at your previous polling place in Massachusetts. State law allows you to vote from a previous address in a state election for up to six months after you have moved, as long as you have not registered elsewhere. Find the voter registration form here. Find Elections Office information here.
Maybe. Under state law, every city and town is required to communicate with each household and compile an annual street list, also known as a city or town census. Most cities and towns choose to communicate with residents by mail. If a voter fails to respond to the annual street list, they will be placed on the inactive voters list and their local election official will send out a confirmation notice, which the voter is asked to sign and return. Voters who fail to return confirmation notices will remain on the inactive voters list. Inactive voters remain registered to vote until they fail to vote in two consecutive state elections. Check your registration status here.

Voting by Mail/Absentee/Ballot Drop-Off

Massachusetts has both mail-in and absentee ballots. You do not need to provide a reason for requesting a mail-in ballot. Most voters should apply for a mail-in ballot, not an absentee. However, if you are currently residing overseas, on active military duty, currently incarcerated for a reason other than a felony conviction, or if you are requesting an emergency ballot due to hospitalization, you must request an absentee ballot. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is November 1 at 5PM.
Yes. Please check that you have filled out all required fields and signed your ballot. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.
You can submit a mail-in ballot request to your local Elections Office online, by mail, by email, or by fax.
No.
Yes.
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is November 1 at 5PM.
Massachusetts will send out mail-in and absentee ballots starting October 9.
You can have your ballot sent to any mailing address that you supply on your mail-in ballot application.
No.
Ballots returned by mail must reach your local Elections Office by 5PM on November 12 in order to be counted. Mailed ballots received after 8PM on Election Day can only be counted if they are postmarked by Election Day.
Yes. Ballots can be returned in person to your local Elections Office or by drop box. They must be delivered by 8PM on Election Day. Ballots cannot be dropped off at a polling place on Election Day.
Yes. You may have a family member return your ballot for you.
No.
Yes. You may send your ballot through USPS or by commercial carrier, such as FedEx and UPS.
No.
Yes. Ballots received late or without a signature will be thrown out.
Yes. You can track your ballot here.
You can contact your local Elections Office with issues about your mail-in ballot. Find contact information here.

Voting In-Person

Find your polling location here.
No.
Yes. Early voting is from October 22 to November 4. Each city and town may choose their own early voting schedules. Contact your local Elections Office to find specific information.
Maybe. If 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, or a poll worker challenges your eligibility, you may be asked to show ID. 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 ID; 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.
You can get a driver's license or State ID from your local Registry of Motor Vehicles office. Find more information here.
Yes. You may vote a provisional ballot if your name does not appear on the voter list or you are unable to provide identification and it is your first time voting in Massachusetts. After Election Day, you may contact the Elections Division at 1-800-462-VOTE (8683) to check the status of your ballot.
Yes. Under federal law (Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act), you are entitled to bring anyone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or neighbor, to the polling place AND into the polling booth to assist with voting. However, that person may not be your employer, running in the election, or a representative of your labor union. The person giving assistance also may not tell the voter how to vote.
Contact your local Elections Office if you have any questions about voting in person. Find contact information here.