Election administration in Massachusetts

Massachusetts 2026 elections

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Election Information
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting

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Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its election administration.

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Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.

THE BASICS

* Massachusetts permits online voter registration.

* Massachusetts permits early voting.

* Massachusetts provides for no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting.

* In Massachusetts, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST

* Massachusetts does not require identification to vote.

* Massachusetts holds semi-closed primary elections.

* Massachusetts has a tool for verifying voter registration.

Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in Massachusetts:

* Poll times
* Voter registration
* Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy[1]
* Voter identification requirements
* Provisional ballot rules
* Primary election type
* Time off work for voting
* Electioneering
* Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

* Voter list maintenance
* Post-election auditing
* Election administration authorities
* Noteworthy events
* Election policy ballot measures
* Election policy legislation
* Ballot access
* Redistricting
* Contact information

## Contents

* 1 Poll times
* 2 Voter registration
* 2.1 Automatic registration
* 2.2 Online registration
* 2.3 Same-day registration
* 2.4 Residency requirements
* 2.5 Verification of citizenship
* 2.6 Verifying your registration
* 3 Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy
* 3.1 Early voting
* 3.2 Absentee/mail-in voting
* 3.2.1 Returning absentee/mail-in ballots
* 3.2.2 Drop box availability
* 3.2.3 Signature requirements and cure provisions
* 3.2.4 Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?
* 4 Voter identification requirements
* 4.1 Provisional balloting for voters without ID
* 5 Provisional ballot rules
* 5.1 Was your provisional ballot counted?
* 6 Primary election type
* 7 Time off work for voting
* 8 Electioneering
* 9 Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
* 10 Voter list maintenance
* 10.1 When names can be removed from the voter list
* 10.2 Inactive voter list rules
* 10.3 The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
* 11 Post-election auditing
* 12 Election administration authorities
* 12.1 State election officials
* 12.2 Local election officials
* 13 Noteworthy events
* 13.1 Massachusetts establishes no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting, in-person early voting (2022)
* 13.1.1 Absentee/mail-in voting, in-person, and early voting upheld by state supreme court
* 13.2 Massachusetts adopts automatic voter registration legislation (2018)
* 13.3 Voter registration deadline upheld by state supreme court (2018)
* 13.4 Massachusetts enacts no-excuse early voting, online voter registration (2014)
* 14 Election policy ballot measures
* 15 Recent legislation related to election administration in Massachusetts
* 15.1 Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia
* 16 Ballot access
* 17 Redistricting
* 17.1 State process
* 18 Contact information
* 18.1 Election agencies
* 19 Ballotpedia's election coverage
* 20 See also
* 20.1 Elections in Massachusetts
* 21 External links
* 22 Footnotes

## Poll times[edit]

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Massachusetts, most polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. However, municipalities may open their polls as early as 5:45 a.m. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.[2][3]

## Voter registration[edit]

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Massachusetts, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of Massachusetts, and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day. An individual also cannot be currently incarcerated due to a felony.[4]

The deadline for registration is 10 days prior to the election. A voter can register online, by mail, or in person. In-person registration occurs at the local office of town clerks, the election commission, or the board of registrars, as well as the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division and the agency's regional offices.  Pre-registration is available for individuals 16 years and older who meet all other requirements.[4]

### Automatic registration[edit]

See also: Automatic voter registration

Massachusetts automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, division of medical assistance, health insurance connector authority, and other agencies that collect what state law defines as reliable citizenship information.[4] If the agency determines a person is a U.S. citizen, they send the individual's name to the election office and a confirmation notice is mailed to the voter in 2-3 weeks.[4]

### Online registration[edit]

See also: Online voter registration

Massachusetts has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.[5]

### Same-day registration[edit]

Massachusetts does not allow same-day voter registration.[6]

### Residency requirements[edit]

To register to vote in Massachusetts, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.[4]

### Verification of citizenship[edit]

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Massachusetts does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must affirm that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, the penalty for an illegal registration is a "fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both."[7]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[8] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

### Verifying your registration[edit]

The Elections and Voting page, run by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

## Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy[edit]

### Early voting[edit]

See also: Early voting

Massachusetts permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

### Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by-mail in Massachusetts. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee/by-mail.[9]

Voters can request an absentee/mail-in ballot online, by mail, or by email or fax. Massachusetts sends an absentee/mail-in ballot application to all registered voters before statewide elections.[9] Applications must reach local election officials by 5 p.m. on the 5th business day before the election. Returned ballots must reach local election officials by the close of polls on Election Day to be counted. Returned absentee/mail-in ballots during the biennial state election in November can be received by local election officials up to three days after the election, provided they were postmarked by Election Day.[9]

All states allow for some form of absentee/mail-in voting. Seven states and the District of Columbia had automatic mail-in ballot systems that mandate that all eligible voters receive an absentee/mail ballot by default. An eighth state, Vermont, had such a system for general elections only.

Twenty-eight states allow any eligible voter to cast an absentee/mail-in ballot. The remaining 14 states required voters to provide an excuse to receive and cast an absentee/mail ballot. Acceptable excuses vary by state.

#### Returning absentee/mail-in ballots[edit]

See also: Mail ballot collection and return laws by state

Absentee/mail-in ballots must be returned to the voter’s local election official no later than the close of the polls on Election Day. Returned absentee/mail-in ballots during the biennial state election in November can be received by local election officials up to three days after the election, provided they were postmarked by Election Day.[9]

Voters can return their ballots by mail, hand-delivering them to their local election official, dropping them off at an early voting location, or using a ballot drop box. Ballots cannot be dropped off at a polling place on Election Day.[9]

Massachusetts law permits a family member to return an absentee ballot on behalf of a voter. A person in a healthcare facility may return it to the election official who delivered the ballot or, at the clerk's discretion, to an individual designated in writing who is not a candidate.[10]

Twenty states allow anyone chosen by the voter to return a ballot on the voter's behalf, with certain exceptions, while 16 states allow anyone with certain relationships to the voter to return the voter's ballot. Four states allow only the voter to return the voter's ballot, with certain exceptions, and two states required voters to return their ballots by mail. Eight states and D.C. do not specify who may return ballots.

#### Drop box availability[edit]

Massachusetts law allows for drop boxes.[11] Over 300 municipalities in Massachusetts used drop boxes as of December 2025.[12] To find a drop box in your community click here to access the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' drop box finder.

#### Signature requirements and cure provisions[edit]

Massachusetts has a cure provision, or a law providing for a process where election officials follow up with voters whose absentee/mail-in ballots contain a signature discrepancy or lack the requisite signatures. The voter is notified if his or her signature is missing or incorrect in some way. The voter is notified prior to Election Day and is sent a new ballot if time allows. The voter can then submit a new ballot.[11]

Thirty-three states have laws that include cure provisions, while 17 states do not. One state, Pennsylvania, allows counties to establish a cure process.

#### Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?[edit]

Massachusetts voters who voted early or by absentee/mail-in ballot can visit the Track My Ballot tool provided by the Massachusetts Secretary of State to check if and when their ballot was counted.

## Voter identification requirements[edit]

See also: Voter ID in Massachusetts
See also: Voter identification laws by state

Massachusetts does not require voters to present identification (ID) while voting, in most cases.[13]

The federal Help America Vote Act requires that individuals in all 50 states who register to vote by mail and who have not voted previously in a federal election in their state must provide either their driver's license or a paycheck, bank statement, current utility bill, or government document showing their name and address. Individuals voting by mail must include a copy of one of those documents with their absentee/mail-in ballot.[14]

These requirements do not apply if an individual submitted a copy of their identification, their driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering to vote.

Voters will also be asked to show ID in the following circumstances:

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* You are voting for the first time in Massachusetts
* You’re on the inactive voter list;
* You are casting a provisional or challenged ballot;
* The poll worker has a practical and legal reason to ask for identification.[13][15]

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The following list of accepted ID was current as of December 2025. Click here for the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

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* 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[15]

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Thirty-six states require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 require voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 12 accept other forms of identification. The remaining 14 states do not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.

Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.

#### Provisional balloting for voters without ID[edit]

Voters who are not able to present ID while voting may cast a provisional ballot. For a provisional ballot to be counted, the voter must return with ID before the close of polls.[13] See below for provisional ballot rules.

## Provisional ballot rules[edit]

Voters in Massachusetts are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances.[16]

(1) If the voter’s name does not appear on the list at the polling place, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

(2) If in a party primary, the voter believes he or she is incorrectly listed as belonging to a certain party, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.[17]

(3) If the voter does not show proper identification the first time he or she is voting, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

#### Was your provisional ballot counted?[edit]

According to the Massachusetts Secretary of State:[16]

“  | Local election offices must resolve all provisional ballots within three days of state or presidential primary elections. Provisional ballots cast for state and local elections must be resolved within 12 days of the election. If your local election office finds that you are an eligible voter, your ballot will be counted.

You can call the Elections Division at 1-800-462-VOTE (8683) after Election Day to see if your ballot has been counted.[15]

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## Primary election type[edit]

See also: Primary elections in Massachusetts

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Massachusetts utilizes a semi-closed primary system where voters who are affiliated with a political party and unaffiliated voters may vote in a party's primary.[18][19]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

## Time off work for voting[edit]

In Massachusetts, employers in certain industries must grant time off upon request for the two hours after the opening of polls:[20]

“  | No owner, superintendent or overseer in any manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile establishment shall employ or permit to be employed therein any person entitled to vote at an election, during the period of two hours after the opening of the polls in the voting precinct, ward or town in which such person is entitled to vote, if he shall make application for leave of absence during such period.[15] | ”

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Twenty-eight states require employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies vary as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.

## Electioneering[edit]

Massachusetts prohibits collecting "signatures upon petitions, referendum petitions or nomination papers" within 150 feet of the entrance to a polling place or early voting site.[21] In addition, displaying any "poster, card, handbill, placard, picture or circular intended to influence the action of the voter" that is not official election information posted by poll workers is banned within 150 feet of a polling place or early voting site.[21]

Violating Massachusetts' electioneering law is punishable by a fine of not more than $20.[21]

## Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In Massachusetts, people convicted of a felony automatically regain their voting rights upon completion of their incarceration.[22]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[23]

## Voter list maintenance[edit]

All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls—or, check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).[24] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.[25]

#### When names can be removed from the voter list[edit]

Massachusetts law authorizes election officials to remove the names of voters from the registered voting list if an individual:[26][27][28]

* remains on the inactive voter list through two biennial state elections.
* dies
* confirms in writing that they have moved outside of their voting jurisdiction
* is subject of a change of address notification from the registry of motor vehicles
* is proven to have registered to vote in two separate jurisdictions.

#### Inactive voter list rules[edit]

Massachusetts law requires election officials to prepare an annual list of all registered voters in each town or city for that year. Elections officials are to cross-reference this list with an annually compiled list of all individuals residing in a town or city. Election officials are to contact all individuals not added to the annual list of registered voters and send them a confirmation notice. These individuals are placed on an inactive voter list until they respond and verify their voting status or are removed after not voting in two biennial state elections.[26][27][29]

#### The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)[edit]

See also: Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)

According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member-states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records and other sources, to provide member states with reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Members fund ERIC. New members pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000, which is reserved for technology upgrades and other unanticipated expenses. Members also pay annual dues. Annual dues cover operating costs and are based, in part, on the citizen voting age population in each state."[30]

Twenty-five states are participating members in the ERIC program. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia have joined and participated in ERIC at some point.[31]

As of December 2025, Massachusetts was participating in the ERIC program.[32]

## Post-election auditing[edit]

Massachusetts state law requires post-election audits. The secretary of state selects the precincts to be audited, and the board of registrars or election commission conducts the audit on 3% of all precincts. Audits are only conducted after presidential elections and must be completed no later than 14 days after the election. If there is a discrepancy, the secretary of state conducts an analysis and publishes the findings. If there is a discrepancy "in any audited race or any audited ballot question that reasonably leads to doubt about the outcome of the election or systemic failure to accurately count ballots,' the secretary of state may order additional audits of "additional precincts, offices or ballot questions as shall be necessary to ensure that the outcome of the election is accurate and that the cause of the systemic failure is identified."[33]

Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.[34][35]

Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.

Forty-six states and the District of Columbia require some form of post-election audit by law, excluding states with pilot programs. Of these, 39 states and the District of Columbia require traditional post-election audits, while three states require risk-limiting post-election audits, and three states require some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.[36][34]

## Election administration authorities[edit]

### State election officials[edit]

The  Secretary of the Commonwealth for Massachusetts is equivalent to the  secretary of state and is the chief election officer in the state.[37] There is no state board of elections or equivalent authority. The secretary of the commonwealth is elected by popular vote every four years.

### Local election officials[edit]

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.|

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## Noteworthy events[edit]

### Massachusetts establishes no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting, in-person early voting (2022)[edit]

On June 22, 2022, Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed Senate Bill 2924, also known as the VOTES Act, into law, making a number of changes to the state's election laws, including the following:[38]

* Allowing all voters to cast absentee/mail-in ballots;
* Establishing in-person early voting for two weeks before state general elections and one week before presidential and state primary elections; and
* Moving the voter registration deadline from 20 days before Election Day to 10 days before Election Day.

#### Absentee/mail-in voting, in-person, and early voting upheld by state supreme court[edit]

The Massachusetts GOP Chair filed a lawsuit against Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin (D) about SB 2924, arguing that it violated a provision in the state's constitution that only allowed voters to vote by mail if they were out of town, physically disabled, or had religious-based conflicts. The lawsuit also argued that absentee ballots accessed for other reasons were more susceptible to fraud. The plaintiffs requested that the court prevent the implementation of the VOTES Act.[39]

On July 11, 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that SB 2924 was not in violation of the Massachusetts Constitution, upholding the law.[39]

### Massachusetts adopts automatic voter registration legislation (2018)[edit]

On August 9, 2018, Governor Charles D. Baker (R) signed H. 4834, a bill providing for automatic voter registration, into law. The bill cleared the state Senate on July 30, 2018, by a vote of 36 to 0. The House approved the bill by a vote of 134 to 16 on July 27, 2018. The bill mandated that eligible citizens be automatically registered to vote whenever they conduct transactions at the state Registry of Motor Vehicles or through the state Medicaid program. The bill's provisions were set to take effect on January 1, 2020. Massachusetts became the 14th state to enact automatic voter registration.[40][41]

### Voter registration deadline upheld by state supreme court (2018)[edit]

On July 2, 2018, the state supreme court voted 7 to 0 to reverse a lower state court ruling striking down Massachusetts' 20-day voter registration deadline, upholding the constitutionality of that deadline. On July 24, 2017, Judge Douglas Wilkins of the Suffolk County Superior Court ruled that Massachusetts' voter registration deadline, occurring 20 days before Election Day, violated the state constitution. Galvin then appealed the ruling to the state supreme court.[42][43][44]

### Massachusetts enacts no-excuse early voting, online voter registration (2014)[edit]

On May 22, 2014, Governor Deval Patrick (D) signed into law a bill that overhauled the state's voting laws. The legislation allowed for no-excuse early voting to take place beginning 11 days before an election. The legislation also established an online voter registration system. The law took effect in 2016[45]

## Election policy ballot measures[edit]

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of Massachusetts ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in Massachusetts.

1. Massachusetts Question 17, Biennial Elections for State Officers and Legislators Amendment (1918)
2. Massachusetts Question 2, Allow Women to Hold Public Office Amendment (1924)
3. Massachusetts Question 2, Party Candidate Nominating Conventions Initiative (1932)

## Recent legislation related to election administration in Massachusetts[edit]

The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Massachusetts. The following information is included for each bill:

* State
* Bill number
* Official bill name or caption
* Most recent action date
* Legislative status
* Sponsor party
* Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

### Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia[edit]

* Try Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker provides daily updates on legislative activity related to election policy in all 50 states.

Our election policy experts translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries. And because it's from Ballotpedia, our legislation tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan.

Search bills

* Read Ballotpedia's State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state.

These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.

Read the latest report

Subscribe to The Ballot Bulletin

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy.

The newsletter tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker.

Subscribe

## Ballot access[edit]

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Massachusetts

In order to get on the ballot in Massachusetts, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Massachusetts. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

## Redistricting[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Massachusetts

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Massachusetts' nine United States Representatives and 200 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[46][47][48][49]

Massachusetts was apportioned nine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Massachusetts after the 2020 census.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Following the 2020 United States Census, Massachusetts was apportioned nine congressional districts, which was unchanged from the number it had after the 2010 census.

* Massachusetts' House of Representatives is made up of 160 districts; Massachusetts' State Senate is made up of 40 districts.

* In Massachusetts, congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature.

### State process[edit]

See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures

In Massachusetts, congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. The lines drawn by the state legislature are subject to veto by the governor.[50]

State statutes require that state legislative district boundaries be contiguous and "reasonably preserve counties, towns, and cities intact, where otherwise possible." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[50]

## Contact information[edit]

### Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Massachusetts can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Massachusetts Town Clerks

Click here for a list

Secretary of the Commonwealth, Elections Division

1 Ashburton Place, Room 1705

Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Phone: 617-727-2828

Toll free: 1-800-462-8683

Fax: 617-742-3238

Email: elections@sec.state.ma.us
Website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/

State Ethics Commission

1 Ashburton Place, Room 619

Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Phone: 617-371-9500

Fax: 617-723-5851

Website: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/state-ethics-commission

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov

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## See also[edit]

* Election laws and legislation in Massachusetts
* State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
* Factors affecting the speed of ballot counting and delivery of unofficial election results
* Voting in Massachusetts
* Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Massachusetts
* Redistricting in Massachusetts

### Elections in Massachusetts[edit]

* Massachusetts elections, 2026
* Massachusetts elections, 2025
* Massachusetts elections, 2024
* Massachusetts elections, 2023
* Massachusetts elections, 2022
* Massachusetts elections, 2021
* Massachusetts elections, 2020

* Massachusetts elections, 2019
* Massachusetts elections, 2018
* Massachusetts elections, 2017
* Massachusetts elections, 2016
* Massachusetts elections, 2015
* Massachusetts elections, 2014

## External links[edit]

* Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth - Elections
* Voter registration lookup
* Track My Ballot tool

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ We use the term "absentee/mail-in voting" to describe systems in which requests or applications are required. We use the term "all-mail voting" to denote systems where the ballots themselves are sent automatically to all voters. We use the hyphenate term for absentee voting because some states use “mail voting” (or a similar alternative) to describe what has traditionally been called "absentee voting."
2. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Polling Hours," accessed December 8, 2025
3. ↑ Town of Natick, "What hours are the polls open on Election day?" accessed December 8, 2025
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Voter Registration Information," accessed December 8, 2025
5. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Online Voter Registration," accessed December 8, 2025
6. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Same-day Voter Registration," accessed December 8, 2025
7. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Official Mail-in Voter Registration Form," accessed December 8, 2025
8. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Voting by Mail," accessed December 8, 2025
10. ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54 § 92," accessed December 6, 2025
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54, § 92," accessed December 8, 2025 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "ninetyfour" defined multiple times with different content
12. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Find Local Election Offices and Dropboxes," accessed December 8, 2025
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Identification Requirements," accessed December 6, 2025
14. ↑ Congress, "H.R.3295 - Help America Vote Act of 2002," accessed September 30, 2025
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Massachusetts Secretary of State, "Provisional Ballots," accessed December 8, 2025 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "mapv" defined multiple times with different content
17. ↑ According to state law, members of political parties may not vote in the primary of a different party.
18. ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 53, § 37," accessed December 6, 2025
19. ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 53, § 38," accessed December 6, 2025
20. ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 149, § 178," accessed December 8, 2025
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54, § 65," accessed December 8, 2025
22. ↑ U.S. Department of Justice, "Guide to State Voting Rules That Apply After a Criminal Conviction," accessed December 8, 2025
23. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," August 19, 2025
24. ↑ As of May 2024, the Justice Department notes, "Six States (Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) are exempt from the NVRA because, on and after August 1, 1994, they either had no voter-registration requirements or had election-day voter registration at polling places with respect to elections for federal office."
25. ↑ The United States Department of Justice, "The National Voter Registration Act of 1993," accessed May 29, 2024
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 51, § 37," accessed December 8, 2025
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 51, § 37A," accessed December 8, 2025
28. ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 51, § 38," accessed December 8, 2025
29. ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 51, § 4," accessed December 8, 2025
30. ↑ ERIC, "FAQ," accessed May 29, 2024
31. ↑ ERIC, "Who We Are," accessed May 29, 2024
32. ↑ ERIC, "What is ERIC?" accessed December 8, 2025
33. ↑ Massachusetts Legislature, "Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54, § 109A," accessed December 8, 2025
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed July 2, 2025
35. ↑ Election Assistance Commission, "Election Audits Across the United States," accessed July 2, 2025
36. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted in October 2024, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
37. ↑ Mass.gov, "Secretary of the Commonwealth," accessed December 8, 2025
38. ↑ BillTrack50, "MA S2924," accessed December 8, 2025
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Democracy Docket, "Massachusetts Supreme Court Upholds VOTES Act," July 11, 2022
40. ↑ The Hill, "Mass. governor signs automatic voter registration bill into law," August 9, 2018
41. ↑ General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Bill H.4834," accessed December 8, 2025
42. ↑ The Boston Globe, "Judge rules state’s voter registration deadline is unconstitutional," July 24, 2017
43. ↑ Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court of Massachusetts, "Chelsea Collaborative, Inc. and others v. William F. Galvin," accessed April 13, 2023
44. ↑ Reuters, "Massachusetts top court upholds 20-day voter registration cut-off," July 2, 2018
45. ↑ MassLive.com, "Massachusetts Senate approves early voting bill," January 16, 2014
46. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
47. ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
48. ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
49. ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 All About Redistricting, "Massachusetts," accessed May 4, 2015

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