Election season is here! Your vote has the power to elect leaders whose decisions will affect all of our lives, including folks in historically under-resourced communities. This blog post goes over important information about voting in Massachusetts. And of course, make sure you are registered to vote!

Register to Vote in MA

What are the registration deadlines and election dates?

State Primary Election
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Deadline to register to vote: August 22, 2020 (JUST 2 DAYS AWAY!)

General Election
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Deadline to register to vote: October 24 , 2020

Who are we voting for this year?

• President: The presidential office is up for election
• Representative in Congress: All nine MA House seats are up for election
• Senator in Congress: Ed Markey’s seat is up for election
• MA Governor’s Council: All eight seats are up for election (Learn more about the MA Governor’s Council)
• MA House: All 160 seats are up for election
• MA Senate: All 40 seats are up for election

See who you’re voting for and download a sample ballot

Who can vote?

A person can vote in the state of Massachusetts if they:

1. Are a U.S. Citizen
2. Are a resident of Massachusetts
3. Are at least 18 years old by Election Day

In addition, a person is still eligible to vote in Massachusetts if they:

1. Live in shelter or with a family member (use this address when registering)
2. Have charges or convictions on their CORI, including a felony

Note: Remember to re-register if you move. If you are not able to vote, you can still educate others on the importance of voting, the candidates, and the ballot initiatives.

How do I register to vote?

Online

You can register online here if you have a signature on file with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. You may pre-register at 16 years old; once you turn 18, your name will be moved to the list of registered voters.

By Mail

1. Obtain a Registration Form: Visit this page on the Secretary of State’s website and download the form OR call 1-800-462-8683.
2. Complete the Registration Form: Fill in all required fields and send in proof of identification. Identification requirements can be found here.
3. Return your completed Registration Form: Return to the City or Town Clerk by mail. Expect registration confirmation within 2-3 weeks.

How do I vote?

You can vote early by mail, vote early in person, or vote on Election Day in person.

Vote by Mail

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all registered voters are allowed to vote by mail in any 2020 election. A Vote by Mail application for the Primary Election will be mailed to all registered MA voters. Another Vote by Mail application will be sent in September for the General Election. You can also download a Vote by Mail application here.

Note: In the Primary Election, you are only voting within your party designation (if aren’t enrolled with a party then you will need to select which party you want to vote for in the Primary when you submit your application).

Early Voting (by mail or in person)

All registered voters can vote early by mail or in person. Early voting by mail will begin as soon as ballots are ready. In-person early voting for the State Primary will be held August 22-28. In-person early voting for the State Election will be held October 17-30. Visit the state’s Early Voting page for more information.

Traditional Voting (in person on Election Day)

Identify your polling location by entering the address where you registered to vote on this website. Health and safety standards will be in place at each site. At the polling location, use the following instructions for guidance:

1. Follow voting machine instructions provided by polling officials. You have a right to instructions.
2. You may be asked to show ID if: 1) it is your first time voting, 2) you have been an inactive voter, 3) you are casting a provisional ballot, or 4) the poll worker has reasonable suspicion to request it.
3. If you do not speak English, you are allowed to bring someone to the polling station.
4. You can bring any paperwork you want into the voting booth with you.

Note: Dates and other information may be subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See the state’s COVID-19 Elections Updates page for the most up-to-date information.

Where can I find additional resources?

• Verify whether or not you are registered to vote
• Find out who represents you, where to vote, and who will be on your ballot (including viewing a sample ballot)
• Learn more about branches of government and the roles of federal, state and local elected officials
• Learn more about the MA Governor’s Council
• Download our voting one-pager in English, Spanish, or Haitian Creole to share with friends, family, colleagues, participants, and anyone else in your network