Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. All Massachusetts voters are eligible to vote by mail upon application. Massachusetts also offers early voting in person before Election Day and on Election Day. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Vote in person
Vote on Election Day
Voters registered in Massachusetts can look up where to vote on Massachusetts’s site.
Vote early
Massachusetts voters can also vote before Election Day. The early voting period runs from Saturday, October 17, 2020 to Friday, October 30, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.
What to bring
- You may be asked to show identification if: you are voting for the first-time in Massachusetts in a federal election, you are an inactive voter, you are casting a provisional or challenged ballot, or if the poll worker has a reasonable suspicion that leads them to request identification. Acceptable forms include (must show your name and address at which you are registered to vote): a MA driver’s license or MA-issued ID card; recent utility bill; rent receipt; signed lease; a copy of a voter registration affidavit; or any other printed identification which contains the voter’s name and address.
- Voters without ID: If you’re a first-time voter who is unable to present ID when you check in, you may vote a provisional ballot and return with acceptable ID by close of polls. If you’re asked for ID for any other reason, and are not able to present ID in such a situation, you must still be permitted to vote; however, your ballot must be challenged. Your ballot will be cast normally, and will only be re-examined in the case of a recount, court order, or audit.
- For more information, visit the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s website.
Who can vote
You have to register to vote before Election Day in Massachusetts. You can find the deadline to register to vote in the “Dates and deadlines” section.
To register in Massachusetts you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Massachusetts
- be at least 16 years old (must be 18 years old to vote on Election Day)
- not have been convicted of corrupt practices in respect to elections
- not be under guardianship with respect to voting
- not be currently incarcerated for a felony conviction
- *find more information on voting rights restoration here
Vote by mail
- Request your mail-in ballot with a mail ballot application.
- Fill out the application completely.
- Submit the request to your local election office. You should request your ballot as far in advance of the election as possible. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
- When your ballot arrives, read it carefully and follow the instructions to complete it and return it.