Important Dates
October
- October 19, 2024 – First day of in-person early voting in Massachusetts
- October 26, 2024 – Last day to register to vote for November 5 election
- October 29, 2024 – Last day to submit vote by mail applications
November
- November 1, 2024 – Last day of in-person early voting in Massachusetts
- November 5, 2024 – Election Day
- November 5, 2024 – Deadline to mail or drop off vote by mail ballots
Know your voting rights
Who can register to vote in Massachusetts?
You can register to vote if you are:
- A U.S. Citizen
- A resident of Massachusetts
- 16 years or older (you may vote if you will be 18 on or before Election Day)
- Not currently incarcerated
How do I register to vote in Massachusetts?
You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person.
You can register online if you have a signature on file and certain other paperwork with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
To register by mail, you will need to print, fill out, and sign this form. Once you have completed the form, mail the signed form to your local election office. The address for your local election office can be found here: Find Local Elections Offices & Dropboxes (state.ma.us).
You can register in person at:
- Your election official’s office.
- The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division, located at 1 Ashburton Place, Room 1705, Boston, MA 02108.
- The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s regional offices, located at:
- Southeastern District Office: 18 South Main St., Suite 206, Fall River, MA 02721
- Western District Office, 436 Dwight St., Room 102, Springfield, MA 01103
Is there a deadline for registering to vote before an election?
You must register or make changes to your registration at least 10 days before Election Day. That means that the deadline to register or change your registration for the November 5, 2024 election is Saturday, October 26th. You cannot register to vote on Election Day.
You may register in person until 5 p.m. on October 26. If you register online, your form must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on October 26. If you register by mail, your form must be postmarked by October 26.
I’m not sure if or where I’m registered. Where can I go to check?
You can check your voter registration status online at My Voter Registration Status: Search (state.ma.us).
Where do I go to vote?
You can confirm your polling location online at Find My Location Information: Search (state.ma.us). All polling locations are open from 7AM until 8PM. If you are in line by 8PM, stay in line—you have the right to vote.
What do I need to bring with me to vote?
Most voters in Massachusetts do not need to show identification in order to vote. However, you may need to show identification at the polling location if you are voting for the first time in Massachusetts, if you are inactive on the voter list, if you’re casting a provisional or challenged ballot, or if the poll worker has a practical and legal reason to ask for identification.
Identification does not need to be a photo ID. It simply needs to show your name and the address where you are registered to vote. Examples of acceptable identification are:
- A driver's license
- A state ID card
- A recent utility bill
- A rent receipt or lease
- A copy of a voter registration affidavit
- A letter from a school dormitory or housing office
- Any other printed identification which contains your name and address
If you need to show identification because you are voting for the first time and you don’t have identification with you, you can cast a provisional ballot. If you return with identification before the polls close, your ballot will be counted.
If you need to show identification for any other reason and you’re not able to do so, you can cast a challenged ballot. Your name and address, the challenger’s name and address, and the reason for the challenge will be written on your ballot. Your ballot will be cast as normal and only examined if there is a recount, court order, or audit.
How to Vote
This year, voters have three options for casting their ballot: voting early by mail, voting in-person at an early voting location, and voting at their polling place on Election Day. Some voters may qualify for a fourth option - casting an absentee ballot. Learn more about all the methods you can use to vote in 2024.
Vote Early by Mail
To vote early by mail, apply for a mail-in early voting ballot online at VoteinMA.com or complete and submit the application that was mailed to you. Your application must reach election officials by 5PM on October 29th. Return your ballot by mail or deliver it in person to your local election office, an official ballot return drop box in your city or town, or any early voting location in your city or town during early voting hours. If returning your ballot by mail, it is recommended to mail at least 7 days before Election Day. Your ballot must be postmarked or dropped-off by 8PM on Election Day. Track your ballot or look up drop-off locations at VoteinMA.com.
Vote In-Person
To vote early in person, go to an early voting location in the city or town you are registered in from October 19th – November 1st. Early voting locations and hours will be posted by October 11th on VoteinMA.com.
To vote in person on Election Day, vote at your polling location on November 5th between 7AM – 8PM. If you are in line by 8PM, you have the right to vote. Confirm your polling location at VoteinMA.com.
Vote Absentee
If you:
- will be out of town on election day;
- have a disability that will keep you from voting at your polling place; or,
- have a religious belief that will keep you from voting at your polling place
you can request an absentee ballot.
To request, fill out this form and return it to your local election official. You may also write to your local election official to request an absentee ballot.
Learn more about requesting an absentee ballot on the Secretary of State's website.
Voter Protection
Voting is a fundamental civil right protected under the law. The Attorney General’s Office will enforce these laws to ensure that you have access to vote and that your vote is counted.
Right to Vote without Influence. State law prohibits electioneering, campaigning, signature-gathering and other specific political activities intended to influence the current election within 150 feet of a voting location. If the150-foot rule is not being enforced at your polling location, please contact the Secretary of State at 1-800-462-VOTE or the Attorney General’s Office at 617-727-2200.
Right to Have Your Vote Counted Once. If you vote by mail, track your ballot to make sure it is received and accepted. If your ballot is rejected, you will be sent a new ballot by mail or you can vote in person. If you receive a mail ballot but do not return it or if you are concerned your election office will not receive it in time, you may vote in person on Election Day – election officials will make sure only one ballot per voter is counted. If you go to vote on Election Day and a poll worker says you cannot vote, you can cast a provisional ballot.
Preventing Voter Intimidation
You have the right to cast your ballot free from intimidation, harassment, or interference. Everyone is prohibited from intimidating voters.
State and federal law prohibits election interference and voter intimidation. If someone interferes, or tries to interfere, with your right to vote, call the Secretary of State’s Office at 1-800-462-VOTE or the Attorney General’s Office at 617-727-2200.
Equal Access to Voting
Right to Equal Access. All polling locations are required to be accessible and have an accessible voting booth and accessible marking unit. People with disabilities may have someone assist them at an early voting or polling location and/or use the accessible vote-by-mail system. Call 1-800-462-VOTE for more info or visit VoteinMA.com.
Law enforcement at my polling location
State and federal law protects your right to vote safely in elections, free from intimidation. Massachusetts state law requires that local police officers be at polling places to assist local election officials and to ensure that voters are not obstructed from voting (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 72).
Poll observers
Massachusetts law provides that elections must be conducted in a manner that is open to public observation. Poll observers are allowed inside the polling place, unless they are disorderly or obstruct the access of voters (950 CMR 52.03(22); 950 CMR 54.04(22)).
Poll watchers may observe polling place operations but they cannot intimidate, threaten, coerce or otherwise interfere with your right to cast your ballot (950 CMR 52.03(22); 950 CMR 54.04(22)).