Voting Matters - Make Your Voice Heard!
Your vote is your voice! Learn more about upcoming elections, how to register, and how to get non-partisan assistance.
MA.gov/Vote: Secretary Of The Commonwealth - Elections
Last Updated November 2024
Election Information
Polls Open 7am to 8pm
Voter Registration
The deadline to register to vote or update your MA voter registration is 10 days before an Election Day.
Massachusetts Voter Registration Information
Check Your Voter Registration Status
You can register to vote:
- Automatically when you apply for or renew your MA driver’s license, learner's permit, or state ID, apply for MassHealth benefits, or apply for health insurance through the Commonwealth Health Connector. A notice will be sent in the mail once you complete one of these actions. If you need to update your address, you will still need to register.
- Online completed 10 days before Election Day
- By Mail postmarked by 10 days before Election Day. It is recommended that you include a copy of your identification with your mail-in voter registration form. If you don’t, you may be asked for identification when you go to your polling place on Election Day.
- In-Person at your local town clerks, election commission, and Boards of Registrars, The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division, or The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s regional offices at least 10 days before Election Day
16 and 17 year olds can pre-register to vote online, by mail, or in-person.
If you recently became a U.S. Citizen within 10 days of an election date, you can register to vote in person at your local election office until 4pm the day before with proof that your naturalization ceremony took place after the voter registration deadline.
Address Confidentiality Program allows survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to be provided a confidential address that can be used when registering to vote.
Vote-By-Mail/Absentee Ballots
Registered Massachusetts voters can request a vote-by-mail ballot without needing a reason for most elections. In some special circumstances when vote-by-mail is not available, a voter who will be out of the area or cannot vote at the polls or religious or disability reasons can apply for an absentee ballot.
A Vote by Mail application is sent to every registered voter before each statewide election unless you have already applied to vote by mail for the upcoming election. You can also print a new form
You can apply for a vote-by-mail ballot:
- Online through the Mail-in Ballot Application System. Your voter registration must be current. Submit any changes before applying online and allow 2 business days to process.
- By Mail by returning the pre-addressed and postage-paid vote-by-mail application sent to your home, by printing and mailing a new form, or by sending a signed letter to your local elections office.
- By Email or Fax to your local elections office. Electronic signatures, scanned applications, and photos of applications are acceptable. Must include a signature that compares to the hand-written signature you have on file, unless you request an accommodation due to disability.
Your application must reach your local election officials by 5 p.m. on the 5th business day before the election. To ensure you receive your ballot in time, it is highly recommended you submit your mail-in voting application 2-3 weeks before an Election Day.
Cast Your Vote
You can cast your vote in Massachusetts:
- Mail-In Ballot, Returned By Mail using the envelope provided. Your ballot must arrive by 8pm on Election Day to be counted, the only exception being the November General Election every 2 years when an additional 3 days are allowed for ballots to arrive if postmarked by Election Day. Within 1 week of an election it is highly recommended you drop off your ballot to ensure it arrives in time.
- Mail-In Ballot, Dropped Off at your local elections office or deposited in a secure drop box. Ballots must be returned by 8pm on Election Day.
- In-Person or by Mail-In Ballot at an Early Voting Site during designated early voting periods. You can vote at any early voting location in your city or town. Available for all state and presidential primaries and elections, and local officials may choose to do so for city and town elections. Contact your local elections office for more information.
- In-Person at your Polling Place on Election Day. You will receive a notice with your polling place when you register to vote or you can look up your polling place online. You cannot return your mail-in ballot to your polling place on Election Day - please return your ballot to your local elections office or drop box.
If you requested a mail-in ballot but it was lost, not returned, mailed back but had not reached your local election office, or was received but rejected you can vote at an early voting site or in-person at your polling place on Election Day. If your mail-in ballot has already been accepted by your local election office, you cannot vote in-person.
Voter identification may be requested if you are voting for the first time in Massachusetts, are an inactive voter, casting a provisional or challenged ballot, or the poll worker requests upon reasonable suspicion. Acceptable identification must include your name and the address at which you are registered to vote. If you can’t present identification you may cast a provisional ballot but must return by close of polls with acceptable identification for your ballot to be counted.
Voting Questions or Problems
Massachusetts Voting Rights Information - 866ourvote.org
You have the right to vote! If you have questions, problems, or experience difficulties or harassment registering to vote or casting your ballot, contact the non-partisan Election Protection Hotline for assistance or to report a concern:
- English - 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
- Spanish - 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)
- Arabic - 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)
- Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali - 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)
- Text Chat Assistance - 866ourvote.org
