To vote in Massachusetts, you need to be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the city or town where you register, at least 18 on Election Day, and not currently incarcerated for a felony. If you meet those requirements, here is how to vote in Massachusetts: register at least ten days before the election, then cast your ballot by mail, during early voting, or at your assigned polling place on Election Day. The state does not require a photo ID for most voters, and many residents are already registered automatically through the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Who Can Register
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 51, Section 1 sets four requirements: U.S. citizenship, residency in the city or town where you register, being 18 or older by Election Day, and not currently serving a felony sentence in a correctional facility.1General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 51 Section 1 – Qualifications of Voters
The felony restriction applies only while you are physically imprisoned. Once you’re released, your voting rights are restored immediately, even if you’re still on parole or probation, though you’ll need to re-register.2Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Registering to Vote People held in jail on misdemeanor charges or awaiting trial without a felony conviction keep their right to vote throughout their detention.
If you’re 16 or 17, you can pre-register now and you’ll be added to the voter rolls automatically when you turn 18. Pre-registration is available online, by mail, or in person at your local election office.2Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Registering to Vote
College students attending school in Massachusetts can register at their campus address if they consider it their current residence. You can’t be registered in two places at once, so registering at school means canceling any prior registration in your home state or town.
How to Register
You have four routes into the voter rolls.
Automatic Registration Through the RMV
Under the VOTES Act, which took effect January 1, 2023, the RMV automatically forwards qualifying license transaction information to the Secretary of the Commonwealth for voter registration. There is no longer an opt-out box on the RMV application itself; if you don’t want to be registered, you have to contact your city or town clerk after the fact.3Mass.gov. Automatic Voter Registration Because of this change, many residents are already registered without ever having filled out a separate form. Before doing anything else, check your status through the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s online portal.
Online
If you have a signature on file with the RMV, you can register through the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s online voter registration system, which pulls your RMV record to verify your identity. The same portal lets you update your address, change your name, or switch your party enrollment.2Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Registering to Vote
By Mail
Download the official mail-in voter registration form from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website. It asks for your full name, residential address (no P.O. boxes), date of birth, any previous registration address, and a party enrollment choice — Democratic, Republican, a political designation, or no party (unenrolled).4Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Official Mail-In Voter Registration Form Sign it and mail it to your local election office.
In Person
You can register at your local town clerk’s office, city election commission, or Board of Registrars. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Elections Division and its regional offices also accept in-person registrations.2Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Registering to Vote
The registration form will ask for either your Massachusetts driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you have neither, you can still register, but you may be asked to show identification the first time you vote.
The Registration Deadline
You must register by 5:00 p.m. on the tenth day before an election or special town meeting. This deadline applies to every election — state, federal, or municipal.5Mass.gov. Massachusetts General Laws c.51 Section 26 – Registration Sessions Massachusetts does not offer same-day registration. Miss the cutoff and you will not be able to vote in that election, so mark your calendar early, particularly for primaries and special elections.
Three Ways to Cast a Ballot
Once you’re registered, you can vote by mail, vote early in person, or vote at your polling place on Election Day. The VOTES Act made no-excuse mail voting a permanent option for all elections.
Vote by Mail
Any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot without giving a reason. Any written communication to your local election office that says you want a mail ballot counts as a valid application, and you can request one for a single election or for every election in the calendar year.6General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 54 Section 25B
Your application must reach your local election office by 5:00 p.m. on the fifth business day before the election.7Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Voting by Mail That’s a receipt deadline, not a postmark deadline. Mailing early doesn’t help if the envelope arrives late.
You can return your completed ballot by delivering it to your local clerk’s office, dropping it in a secured municipal drop box, mailing it back, or handing it in at an early voting location during operating hours.6General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 54 Section 25B It must reach the election office or drop box by the close of polls on Election Day. One exception: for the November biennial state election, ballots postmarked by Election Day are counted if received within three days after.7Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Voting by Mail
Early In-Person Voting
Early in-person voting is available for regular state elections, state primaries, presidential primaries, special elections held on the same day as a statewide election, and special elections for U.S. Senate or U.S. House.8Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. How to Vote Early Your city or town sets the specific locations and hours within the state-mandated period. Common sites include town halls, community centers, and libraries. The process is the same as Election Day voting: you show up, check in, and cast your ballot on the spot.
Election Day Voting
Polling places for state elections, state primaries, and presidential primaries are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Some communities open as early as 5:45 a.m., so check with your local election office if you need to vote before 7:00.9Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Polling Hours You have to go to the polling place assigned to your residential address; poll workers at the wrong location cannot give you the correct ballot for your district.
What ID You Need at the Polls
Massachusetts does not require every voter to show ID, and no photo ID is required. Most people simply give their name and address at check-in. You may be asked for identification if you’re voting for the first time in Massachusetts, your name is on the inactive voter list, you’re casting a provisional or challenged ballot, or a poll worker has a specific reason to verify your identity.
When ID is requested, it needs to show your name and the address where you’re registered. Acceptable documents include a driver’s license, state ID card, recent utility bill, rent receipt or lease, a copy of your voter registration affidavit, a letter from a school dormitory or housing office, or any other printed document showing your name and address.10Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Identification Requirements The list is deliberately broad so residents without a driver’s license can still check in.
If There’s a Problem at the Polls
If your eligibility can’t be confirmed at check-in — your name isn’t on the list, there’s a question about your registration, or another issue comes up — you have the right to cast a provisional ballot, and poll workers are required to tell you so.11General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 54 Section 76C
You’ll sign an affirmation stating you’re registered and live in the precinct. You’ll be asked for identification, but not having ID does not stop you from completing the ballot. The clerk reviews it afterward to decide whether you were eligible. If you turn out to be registered in a different precinct within the same city or town, your ballot still counts for the races you were eligible to vote in.11General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 54 Section 76C If your ballot is rejected, you have the right to find out why.
Military, Overseas, and Confidential Address Situations
Massachusetts residents serving in the military, living abroad, or who are U.S. citizens overseas can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) at fvap.gov, which works as both a registration form and an absentee ballot request. The application has to be printed and signed, so you’ll need a printer. Deadlines for requesting and returning military and overseas ballots vary by election, so check with your local election office or the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s state lookup tool well ahead of time.
If you’re a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, or stalking, the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Address Confidentiality Program provides a substitute mailing address you can use on voter registration and other public records, keeping your home address out of searchable databases.12Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Address Confidentiality Program Enroll in the ACP before you register so you can use the substitute address from the start.