To be eligible to vote in Massachusetts, a person must be a Massachusetts resident and US citizen who will be at least 18 years old on or before the election day and must be registered to vote. The person must not be under legal guardianship with respect to voting or convicted of election fraud. Registration is permanent as long as a person's address remains the same and the person answers the annual census in January. The last day to register to vote is 20 days before the election. Oct. 18 was the last day to register for the Nov. 7 General Election.
When a person registers to vote they may choose to be a Democrat, Republican or Libertarian Party member, or choose to be unenrolled in any party.
On Jan. 1, 1995, the National Voter Registration Act, commonly called Motor Voter, took effect. Because election laws have changed, citizens have expanded chances to register to vote. If you need to register to vote for future elections, you may register to vote in person at any local election office and at these Massachusetts state agency offices: Registry of Motor Vehicles; Food Stamp Program; Assistance for Families with Dependent Children; Women, Infants and Children Program; Medical Assistance Program; Commission for the Blind; Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission; Department of Mental Health; Department of Mental Retardation; and the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
In addition, a mail-in form may be completed and hand-delivered or mailed to the local election office. For the latest information call the League of Women Voters information phone at (800) 882-1649 or (617) 723-1421, and at [email protected].
Where to cast your vote: Check with the city or town clerk about the location of your polling place in the city or town where you live. For state primaries and elections the polls must be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polls may open as early as 5:45 a.m. Voters in line when the polls close may still vote. All polling places are required to be accessible to the elderly and to people with disabilities.
How to cast a vote: You are required to give your name and address to the election official before entering the voting booth. Voting is done alone unless voters seek assistance. Anyone who is physically disabled, who cannot read, or who cannot read English may ask for assistance from an election official. If you spoil a ballot, you may ask for another ballot. If that ballot is spoiled, you may ask for only one more ballot. Sample ballots and instructions are posted at the polls.
If your name is not on the voting list: If you have registered to vote but find your name is not on the voters list or listed incorrectly, ask an election official to call the registrar of voters at the city or town hall. If the registration is confirmed you may vote. If the registration cannot be confirmed by the election official, you should go to the registrar of voters at the city or town hall. If the registration is confirmed you may use an absentee ballot or obtain a certificate and return to the original polling place to vote. If you claim the right to vote but are denied you must be allowed to mark an escrow ballot. This ballot is kept separately and counted only if you are found later to be eligible and the election is very close.
What about an absentee ballot? You may vote absentee if you are a registered voter and will be unable to vote at the polls on election day for one of the following reasons: absence from city or town during voting hours, physical disability, or religious beliefs. If you will vote absentee, you must fill out an application form or write to the city or town clerk and give the address to which the absentee ballot should be sent. For a ballot that is being sent through the mail, allow enough time for the application to get to the town or city clerk, to have the ballot sent out and returned by mail before the close of the polls on election day. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot if you are both applying and voting in person is noon on the day before an election. It is not necessary to witness an absentee ballot.
