Voting In Massachusetts

State Contact Information

Secretary of Commonwealth
1 Ashburton Place
McCormack Room 1705
Boston, MA 2108

Phone: 617-727-2828
Fax: 617-742-3238
Email: elections@sec.state.ma.us
Web: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/index.htm

Registration Deadlines:

In Person: Wednesday, October 13, 2010
By Mail: Postmarked Wednesday, October 13, 2010


Election Dates:

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 (Primary)

Election News:

View the Top 10 State News Stories from Yahoo!



Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to vote in Massachusetts, you must be… Click to learn more
ID Needed for Voter Registration
You must attach identification to your voter registration form, if you are registering to vote for the first time in Massachusetts. If you registered to vote by mail on or after January 1, 2003, you will be required to show identification when you vote for the first time… Click to learn more
ID Needed for Voting
If you registered to vote by mail on or after January 1, 2003, you will be required to show identification when you vote for the first time in a federal election.… Click to learn more
Registration Deadline

You must register to vote at least 20 days before an election. 10 days before a special town meeting.

Verify Voter Registration

To verify your voter registration status, please contact your local board of elections for your county, city or state.

Absentee Ballot Process
You may vote by absentee ballot if you… Click to learn more
Early Voting
Absentee in-person balloting is available to those who are allowed to vote by absentee ballot. In Massachusetts you may vote absentee for one of the following three reasons only: … Click to learn more
Election Dates

The next election will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2009: Statewide Primary (Wednesday, November 18, 2009: Registration Deadline)

Check your state's resource for local election dates and information.

Poll Worker Information
In order to be a poll worker in Massachusetts… Click to learn more
Polling Place Hours

For all elections, except local elections, the polls must be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Some polling places may open earlier than 7:00 am. If you are in line at the polls by 8:00 pm, you are entitled to vote. For the polling hours in a local election please visit your state's resource.

Time Off To Vote

Voters employed in mechanical, manufacturing or mercantile businesses are allowed time off during the first two hours after the polls have opened only if an application for absence has been submitted.

Polling Place Locator
You can find your polling place by utilizing VOTE411's poll locator tool. Some states and local jurisdictions provide their own poll locators. You can confirm your voting location by selecting from the following local resources:… Click to learn more
Provisional Voting
If your name is not on the voting list, you will be able to vote using a provisional ballot. You will be asked to sign a roster and provide your name, address, signature, date of birth, and political party affiliation if applicable. You will be asked to show suitable identification showing your name and current address. If you do not provide suitable identification, your provisional ballot may not be counted… Click to learn more
Voting Machines
The voting systems used in Massachusetts are optical scan and hand counted paper ballots… Click to learn more
Candidate and Ballot Measure Information

Information on local, state and federal candidates and ballot measures is available here.

Provisions for Voters with Disabilities
Polling places must be accessible to elderly and disabled voters. … Click to learn more
Campaign Finance Information

For information on federal campaign contributions, please visit Open Secrets.

For information on state campaign contributions, please visit your state's resource.

Top 10 State News Stories From Yahoo!:
  1. Massachusetts Approves Plan to Bypass Electoral College
    Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:46:02 -0700
    The Massachusetts Legislature "has approved a new law intended to bypass the Electoral College system and ensure that the winner of the presidential election is determined by the national popular vote," the Boston Globe reports. "Supporters are campaigning, state by state, to get such bills enacted. Once states accounting for a majority of the electoral votes (or 270 of 538) have enacted the ...

  2. Who Needs the Electoral College? Not Massachusetts
    Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:55:57 -0700
    The Massachusetts State Legislature has approved a law that would award the state's electoral college votes to the winner of the national popular vote. Is this the beginning of the end of indirect election in America?

  3. What To Do With The Electoral College?
    Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:10:08 -0700
    The Massachusetts state legislature has passed a bill that would change the way presidents are elected. It would leave the current Electoral College system and award its votes to the winner of the national popular vote.

  4. Vance Report: A red tide is still favoring Republicans
    Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:16:15 -0700
    The year started well for Republicans in Massachusetts, and things are looking good for them in Washington state so far.

  5. Mass. adopts Electoral College bill
    Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:42:55 -0700
    BOSTON, July 28 (UPI) -- The Massachusetts Legislature has approved a law aimed at ensuring the winner of the popular vote becomes U.S. president. Electoral College - United States - Election - President of the United States - Massachusetts

  6. State OKs reimbursement of $22.3M for school
    Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:37:35 -0700
    The Massachusetts School Building Authority voted yesterday to approve construction of a new Uxbridge High School and to reimburse the town up to $22.3 million, or 57.53 percent, of the $44 million cost.

  7. Constitutional Convention to resume at 1 p.m.
    Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:51:12 -0700
    With 60 hours to go before a July 31 end of formal business, lawmakers will meet jointly Thursday to consider amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution, ranging from the creation of an independent commission to redraw political districts, abolishing the Governor's Council, requiring the election of judges, repealing the automatic pay increases for lawmakers and establishing a two-year budget ...

  8. Lawmakers OK winner-take-all bill
    Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:35:49 -0700
    The Massachusetts Legislature has approved a law intended to bypass the Electoral College system and ensure that the winner of the presidential election is determined by the national popular vote. Electoral College - Election - United States - President - Government

  9. Stem cell scientists fear election impact
    Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:03:07 -0700
    All but two of the gubernatorial candidates in Tuesday's primary oppose stem cell research, raising concerns that scientific efforts will be ratcheted back even before they take root in the state.

  10. Looks matter in voting: study
    Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:38:51 -0700
    BOSTON - CAMPAIGN managers and strategists are often given credit for a political candidate's election victory, but stylists and image consultants should receive the praise, according to new research. A study by political scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) shows that good looks boost a contender's chances at the polls in the United States and other countries.

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