On Sept. 3, voters in Massachusetts will decide on the list of candidates for both local and federal office that will appear on the general election ballot Nov. 5. Here’s what you need to know to vote in the Massachusetts primary election.
Haga clic aquí para leer en Español.
Important dates:
Primary Election Day: Sept. 3
Deadline to register to vote: Aug. 24 by 11:59 p.m.
Early voting: Aug. 24-30
Deadline to submit mail ballot applications: Aug. 26 by 5 p.m.
How do I register to vote?
Online: You can register to vote online using a driver’s license or any other form of identification. Click here for a list of all accepted forms of identification.
By mail: You can register to vote via mail by downloading and filling out this voter registration form and sending it to your local election office. Your form has to be postmarked by the voter registration deadline of Aug. 24.
In person: You can register to vote in person at your local town clerks, election commission, and Boards of Registrars. You can also choose to register at the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division and the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s regional offices.
When and where can I vote on Election Day?
On Election Day, all polling places throughout the state are open 7 a.m.-8 p.m., but some cities or towns may open the polls as early as 5:45 a.m. Check with your local election office for hours at your polling place.
Can I vote in either party’s primary?
Massachusetts recognizes three political parties: Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian. Each party holds its own primary, with only that respective party’s candidate listed on the ballot. Non-party candidates or “independent candidates” won’t appear on the primary ballot but will be on the general election ballot.
How do I vote by mail?
Mail ballot applications must reach your local election office by 5 p.m. Aug. 26. You can return your mail ballot by mailing it back using the envelope provided, hand-delivering it to your local election office, dropping it off at an early voting location during early voting hours, or by using a ballot drop box. Mail ballots cannot be dropped off at a polling place on Election Day. Mail ballots must reach your local election office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
What if I need help voting?
Massachusetts requires that polling locations meet certain standards of accessibility, including providing accessible parking, entrances, and ramps wherever there are stairs.
If you are blind or have a vision impairment or any other disability that would make it difficult to fill out a paper ballot, you can request an accessible vote by mail ballot.
Federal law also requires that all voting material be made available in both Spanish and English. In Massachusetts, voting material is also available in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Khmer.
If you became a U.S. citizen after the voter registration deadline, you can still register to vote at your local polling place by 4 p.m. on Primary Election Day You will need proof that your naturalization ceremony took place after the voter registration deadline.
Voters may bring someone to the polls to help them throughout the voting process. Click here for more information about language and disability access.
How do I find out more information about the candidates?
Click here to see a list of candidates for the primary election, and go to ballotready.org to learn more about them and make a plan to vote. Click here for more information on voting and elections in Massachusetts. You can find more of our reporting on the 2024 elections at thepublicsradio.org/2024elections.
TELL US: What questions do you have about voting and elections in Massachusetts?
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Publish date : 2024-08-16 10:22:00
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