Massachusetts Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should check out the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Mail-in Deadlines

General Election: Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Massachusetts you must:

• be a citizen of the United States
• be a resident of Massachusetts
• be 18 years old on or before the next election
• not have been convicted of corrupt practices in respect to elections
• not be under guardianship with respect to voting
• not be currently incarcerated for a felony conviction

How to register to vote:

Use our Voter Registration Widget.  Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form.

ID requirements for first-time voters:

If you are registering for the first time in Massachusetts, you must include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form.  If you forget, you'll need to provide ID the first time you vote in person or by absentee ballot.  Acceptable identification includes: a copy of a current and valid photo ID that shows your name OR a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows your name and Massachusetts address.

Voter registration verification:

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here.

Absentee Voting

You may vote by absentee ballot if:

• you will be absent from your city or town on election day, and/or
• you have a physical disability that prevents your voting at the polling place, and/or
• you cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs and/or
• you are confined in a correctional facility or jail (but NOT on a felony charge)

Generally, a voter must be registered in order to vote absentee, though several exceptions exist: Those outside of Massachusetts; prisoners; and members of the armed forces or merchant marine (and their spouses or dependents) do not need to be registered in order to vote absentee.

How to apply for an absentee ballot:

You can submit one application for every election in a year.  Once the application is processed, Massachusetts will automatically mail you a ballot for every eligible election in that calendar year!

Downloading and completing the Massachusetts Absentee Ballot Application.  If you're away at college, temporarily outside the county, or physically disabled, a relative can use the Absentee Ballot Application by a Family Member to request the ballot for you. 

Mail, fax, or hand-deliver your completed application to your City Clerk, Town Clerk, or Local Election Official c/o your City or Town Hall.  Once the election official processes your form, they'll mail your ballot to you.

ID requirements for absentee voters:

You do not need to provide ID if you've already voted in Massachusetts at least once.  If you are a first time Massachusetts and you did not include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form, you must include a copy with your absentee ballot application.  Acceptable identification includes: a current and valid photo ID that shows your name and Massachusetts address OR a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows your name and address.

Absentee ballot instructions:

Fill out your ballot, sign where indicated, put a stamp on it, and then mail your ballot back to your City Clerk, Town Clerk or Local Election Official.  The address will be on the absentee ballot.  Your ballot must be received before the polls close on Election Day.

State Contact Information