How to vote in Massachusetts
Massachusetts voter registration guide
Massachusetts voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 10 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 10 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 10 days before Election Day
Check your Massachusetts voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Massachusetts registration using the Massachusetts voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Massachusetts voter registration rules
To register in Massachusetts you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Massachusetts
- be 18 years old by Election Day (you may pre-register if you are 16)
- not be temporarily or permanently ineligible to vote because of election crimes
- not be under guardianship with respect to voting
- not be currently incarcerated for a felony conviction.
Massachusetts online voter registration
You can register to vote online if you have a Massachusetts driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued ID card.
- Visit the Massachusetts online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 10 days before Election Day .
Massachusetts by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Massachusetts driver’s license number or the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you have neither, write “NONE” in the box.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You may register with a party. Members of political parties may vote only in their own party's primary elections. Voters who choose not to enroll in a party and members of political designations or minor parties may vote in the party primary of their choice.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked 10 days before Election Day .
Massachusetts in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Massachusetts driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Massachusetts address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Massachusetts same day registration
Registering to vote in Massachusetts with a felony conviction
Voting rights are restored automatically upon release from prison. You can register to vote. Massachusetts Voters' Bill of Rights
Massachusetts absentee and mail ballot guide
Massachusetts absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
Massachusetts absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Massachusetts absentee ballot rules
Any registered Massachusetts voter may request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Massachusetts online ballot request (recommended)
- Visit the Massachusetts absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 7 days before Election Day .
Massachusetts by-mail ballot request
- Download the Massachusetts absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received 7 days before Election Day .
Massachusetts in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 7 days before Election Day .
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided drop box. Please check with your local election office if your county has a drop box. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day .
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day .
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Massachusetts absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on your application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Massachusetts absentee ballot tracker
Track your ballot here: Massachusetts absentee ballot tracker
Massachusetts absentee ballot curing
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- If your ballot is rejected before Election Day, the state may send you a new ballot.
- Your new ballot must be postmarked or returned in person by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
Massachusetts emergency ballots
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot RulesYou or a family member working on your behalf may request an absentee ballot if you are hospitalized after NOON 7 days before Election Day.
- Emergency ballot request starts NOON 7 days before Election Day
- Emergency ballot request ends close of polls Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Massachusetts early voting guide
Massachusetts early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 17 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 4 days before Election Day
What to bring
Only first-time voters need to show ID. You can show a driver's license from any state, a US passport or passport card, a tribal ID, a military ID, or any other government-issued photo ID. You can also show an student ID from an accredited college or university. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
Massachusetts voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
Only first-time voters need to show ID. You can show a driver's license from any state, a US passport or passport card, a tribal ID, a military ID, or any other government-issued photo ID. You can also show an student ID from an accredited college or university. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
Your signature on your application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail ballot
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
ID requirements for online voter registration
You can register to vote online if you have a Massachusetts driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued ID card.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Massachusetts elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division, Room 1705 One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108
External resources
- Massachusetts online voter registration
- Massachusetts online absentee ballot request
- Massachusetts voter status lookup
- Massachusetts absentee ballot tracker
- Massachusetts provisional ballot tracker
- Massachusetts polling place locator