2018 Massachusetts General Court elections | |
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General | November 6, 2018 |
Primary | September 4, 2018 |
2018 elections | |
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Choose a chamber below: | |
The Republican primary elections for the seats in the Massachusetts State Senate and Massachusetts House of Representatives were on September 4, 2018. For information about the Democratic primary elections in Massachusetts, click here.
The general election was on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was June 5, 2018. In the state Senate, all 40 seats were up for election. In the state House, all 160 seats were up for election.
Six state House Republicans did not seek re-election in 2018.
No incumbents were defeated in the 2018 primaries.
Year | Total seats | Open seats | Total candidates | Democratic primaries contested | Republican primaries contested | Total contested | Incumbents contested in primaries | Total incumbents contested in primaries |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 200 | 23 | 340 | 43 | 6 | 12.3% | 18 | 10.2% |
2016 | 200 | 13 | 305 | 37 | 3 | 10.0% | 21 | 11.2% |
2014 | 200 | 21 | 343 | 35 | 12 | 11.8% | 15 | 8.4% |
The tables below show the partisan breakdowns of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts State Senate as of September 2018:
Party | As of September 2018 | |
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Democratic Party | 117 | |
Republican Party | 34 | |
Independent | 2 | |
Vacancies | 7 | |
Total | 160 |
Party | As of September 2018 | |
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Democratic Party | 31 | |
Republican Party | 7 | |
Vacancies | 2 | |
Total | 40 |
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.[2][3]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
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.[4]
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.[5]
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:[5]
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.[6]
Massachusetts has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.[7]
Massachusetts does not allow same-day voter registration.[7]
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.[5]
Massachusetts does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration.
The Elections and Voting page, run by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Massachusetts does not require voters to present identification (ID) while voting, in most cases.[8]
However, voters will be asked to show ID in the following circumstances:
“ | ” |
The following list of accepted ID was current as of August 2024:
“ | 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.[9] | ” |
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.
Any eligible voter has the option to vote by absentee/mail-in ballot in all elections.[10]