Election season in Massachusetts is right around the corner — and voters have less than a month to make sure they’re registered on time.
The Massachusetts primary elections are on Sept. 3, followed by the general election, which includes the race for the White House, on Nov. 5. Here’s everything you need to know about exercising your civic duty.
Dates to remember
- Deadline for primary election voter registration: Aug. 24
- Deadline for primary election vote-by-mail application: Aug. 26
- Massachusetts primary election date: Sept. 3. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
- Deadline for presidential election voter registration: Oct. 26
- Deadline for presidential election vote-by-mail application: Oct. 29
- General election date: Nov. 5. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
Am I registered to vote?
You can confirm you’re already registered to vote by going to the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s website. Enter your name, date of birth and ZIP code, and to find out if your voting status is active.
Massachusetts driver’s license carriers are automatically registered to vote if they renew a driver’s license, learner’s permit, or state ID, apply for MassHealth benefits, or enroll in health insurance through HealthConnector. This is unless you have selected to opt out while doing any of those things.
Voters only need to re-register again if they have moved, changed their name, have not voted in four years, or want to change political parties.
How to qualify for voting registration
Prospective voters have to meet a few qualifications when they register, according to Secretary of State William Galvin’s website.
All Bay State voters need to be U.S. citizens; Massachusetts residents aged 18 years old or older. and not be incarcerated due to a felony conviction, Galvin’s office said.
How to register to vote for primary and presidential elections
Registration for all elections can happen online, by mail, or in person. Residents can also pre-register starting at the age of 16 and will be added to Massachusetts’ list when they turn 18.
The deadline for voter registration in Massachusetts is Aug. 24 for the primary election, and Oct. 26 for the general election.
Registering online
Those who register online on the state,’s website will then have to answer several questions, including:
- Are you a citizen of the United States of America?
- Are you at least 16 years old?
- Do you have an ID issued by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles?
Prospective voters then verify their RMV ID and provide their first name, last name, date of birth, and RMV ID number. After, they’re taken to the online application and will fill out a former name and address, if applicable, along with current residential and mailing addresses and a phone number.
They will also fill out a political party or designation. Voters can choose from the Democratic, Republican or Libertarian parties, or select “No party (Unenrolled, commonly referred to as ‘Independent’).” For a full list of political designations, which includes Green Party USA, click the link here.
Registering by mail
Voter registration forms can be printed at this link. The form must be filled out and signed, then mailed to a prospective voter’s local election office and postmarked by the voter registration deadline.
Those registering to vote in Massachusetts for the first time should include a copy of identification with the applicant’s name and address. If a copy is not included, one must be presented the first time voting.
Registering in-person
Voter registration forms done in person are valid the day they are signed. Registering and pre-registering in person can happen at the following locations in Massachusetts:
- A prospective voter’s local town clerks, election commission, and Boards of Registrars
- The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division
- The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s regional offices
Where is my polling location?
To find a local poll booth location, voters can enter their address on the Secretary of Commonwealth’s website. This will show their precinct number, ward number, and the address of where they can vote.
Which ballot do I get?
The ballot you vote on will depend on which party you are registered under. Upon checking in at your polling location, voters are given a ballot for the party they’re registered under.
Unenrolled voters or those registered for any party other than those listed can choose any one of the party ballots at the poll. All voters are only allowed one ballot.
Do I need to show identification?
In most cases, voters do not need to show their identification to vote in Massachusetts — they’re usually asked their address and name, and poll workers check the information on their list of registered voters.
But a voter could be asked for their ID for one of the following reasons, according to the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office:
- 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
An ID must include a voter’s name and the address where they are registered to vote. Examples 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 that contains the voter’s name and address.
How to vote in the primary and general elections
The primary election voting day is Sept. 3, and the general election voting day is Nov. 5.
In-person
Head over to your polling place and when you check in, provide the poll worker with your address and your name, Galvin’s website said. This poll worker must then repeat your name, address, and party choice back to you before marking the information on the voter list.
Independent, or unenrolled, voters — voters not registered as Democrats, Republicans, or Libertarians — must choose a party’s primary to vote in, according to the secretary’s website.
Vote by mail
Those who wish to vote by mail for the primary election must apply by 5 p.m. on Aug. 26, and must apply by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 for the general election, Galvin’s office said.
Ballots can be returned in multiple ways, including
There are certain deadlines for both elections. Primary elections have a hard deadline of 8 p.m. on Sept. 3 for mail-in ballot returns.
The general presidential election has three separate deadlines according to how the mail-in ballot is returned. These include:
- If returned in-person or by dropbox: 8 p.m. on Nov. 5
- If returned by domestic mail: 5 p.m. on Nov. 8 (must be postmarked by Election Day)
- If returned by mail from outside the U.S. (for military and overseas voters): 5 p.m. on Nov. 15 (must be postmarked by Election Day)
The elections division refers to the same online application process for voters with disabilities, with an accessible vote-by-mail application. This application can include a type-written signature if voters are not able to independently sign their application by hand.
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