Election administration in Massachusetts

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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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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.

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

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. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.^[2]

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.^[3]

The deadline for registration is 10 days prior to the election. A voter can register online, by mail, or in person at any registration office or the Registry of Motor Vehicles. A form of identification is required to register. The following are acceptable forms of identification:^[3]

• Valid driver's license
• State-issued identification card
• Current utility bill
• Bank statement
• Paystub
• Government-issued check
• Any other government document displaying the voter's name and address

Automatic registration[edit]

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]

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.^[5]

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.^[3]

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 attest 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 five years or both."^[6]

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.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.

Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

Any eligible voter has the option to vote by absentee/mail-in ballot in all elections.^[7]

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. A voter can also vote absentee/mail-in in his or her local election official’s office. This can be arranged by contacting the voter’s local election office. A family member is also able to deliver an absentee/mail-in ballot for the voter.^[7][8]

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, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.^[9]

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.^[10]

However, voters will be asked to show ID in the following circumstances:

“

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; The poll worker has a reasonable suspicion that leads them to request identification.[10][11]

”

The following list of accepted ID was current as of August 2024:

• 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

Click here for the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Acceptable identification must include your name and the address at which you are registered to vote. Examples of acceptable identification include: a driver's license, state-issued ID card, recent utility bill, rent receipt, lease, a copy of a voter registration affidavit, or any other printed identification which contains the voter's name and address.[11]

”

As of April 2024, 35 states required voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 required voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 11 accepted other forms of identification. The remaining 16 states did 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.^[10] 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.^[12]

(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.^[13]

(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:^[12]

“

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.[11]

”

Local election officials[edit]

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. An unaffiliated voter is allowed to vote in the primary election of his or her choice.^[14][15]

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:

“

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.[16][11]

”

As of September 2024, 28 states required employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies varied as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.

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.^[17]

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.^[5]

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).^[18] 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.^[19]

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:^[20]

• 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 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.^[21]

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."^[22]

By 2022, 33 states and the District of Columbia had joined ERIC. As of May 2024, 24 states and the District of Columbia were members in the ERIC program.^[23]

As of April 2023, Massachusetts was participating in the ERIC program.

Noteworthy events[edit]

2022[edit]

Massachusetts establishes no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting, in-person early voting[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:^[24]

• 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, saying 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.^[25]

On July 11, 2022, the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that SB 2924 was not in violation of the Massachusetts Constitution, which resulted in the law being upheld.^[26]

2018[edit]

Massachusetts adopts automatic voter registration legislation[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.^[27][28]

Voter registration deadline upheld by state supreme court[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 prior to Election Day, violated the state constitution. Galvin appealed the ruling to the state supreme court, which scheduled oral argument in the case to take place on March 6, 2018.^{[29][30][31][32]}

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.^[33][34]

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 percent 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 that reasonably leads to doubt about the outcome of the election or systemic failure to accurately count ballots, the Secretary of State may order audits of additional precincts, offices or ballot questions as necessary to ensure that the outcome of the election is accurate and that the cause of the systemic failure is identified."^[35]

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.^[36][37]

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.

As of October 2024, 49 states and the District of Columbia had some form of post-election audit by law. Of these, 35 states and the District of Columbia required traditional post-election audits, while six states required risk-limiting post-election audits by law. Eight states used some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.^[38][39]

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 2, Campaign Finance Laws Initiative (1998)
2. Massachusetts Question 1, Contributions to Ballot Measure Campaigns Initiative (1994)
3. Massachusetts Question 2, Multi-Party Candidates Initiative (2006)
4. Massachusetts Question 2, Candidate Nominating Procedures Initiative (1932)
5. Massachusetts Question 4, Establishment of Political Parties Initiative (1990)
6. Massachusetts Question 2, Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2020)

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 name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. The table displays up to 100 results by default. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker[edit]

State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.

Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. But that's just the beginning of what it can do:

• Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments
• We translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries written in everyday language
• And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan

The Ballot Bulletin[edit]

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin 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. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

Click here to view recent issues and 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.^{[40][41][42][43]}

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.

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.^[44]

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.^[44]

Election administration agencies[edit]

Election agencies[edit]

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions 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

One 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

One 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

Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]

Click the tiles below to navigate to 2024 election coverage, or use the map below:

See also[edit]

• 2024 election dates and deadlines
• Voting in Massachusetts
• Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Massachusetts
• Redistricting in Massachusetts

Elections in Massachusetts[edit]

• 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

Footnotes[edit]

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