Voting and Election Guide: Registering to Vote

You may register to vote in Massachusetts if:

• You are a citizen of the United States; and
• You will be at least 18 years of age on or before the next election; and
• You are a resident of Massachusetts; and
• You are not currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction.

If you meet the above requirements, you may register to vote online, by mail, or in-person.

You must complete your Massachusetts voter registration before a primary, election, or meeting.

The registration deadlines depend on the election type:

• 20 days before an upcoming primary or election.
• 10 days before a special town meeting.

Registering Online:

In order to register to vote online, you must have a signature on file with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. If you currently have a Massachusetts driver's license or state ID card, you may use the online voter registration application to register, update your address, or change your party affiliation.

Registering by Mail:

If you do not qualify to register to vote online, or if you would prefer to register by mail, you may download a voter registration form. The form must be completed, signed, and delivered to your local election official. Voter registration forms submitted by mail must be postmarked no later than the voter registration deadline.

Registering In-Person

If you would like to register in-person, you may do so at any local election office, as well as the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office. Voter registration is also available as part of every transaction at the Registry of Motor Vehicles and at certain public assistance agencies. Voter registration forms completed in-person are valid as of the day that they are signed.
 

** New Citizens Note **

I became a new citizen after the deadline to register to vote. Can I vote?

Yes. As a new citizen, you may register to vote after the deadline. Go in person to the Election Department at City Hall up until 4 PM on the day before the election. You must bring your dated naturalization papers for them to copy.

See more at: MassVote.org

For more information, check out the following websites:

State of Massachusetts Voter Registration Information

Registering to Vote at the RMV

MassVote.org Voter Info

Rock the Vote

After you are registered to vote, you can check your voter registration status here.

When you fill in and submit your information you will be shown whether or not you are actively registered to vote, your party affiliation, and your polling place and congressional district, among other helpful information.

This is especially useful if you have recently moved and want to make sure you know where to vote and/or see if you need to change your voter information.

When you register to vote, you will be asked to select a political party that you affiliate with. You may select the two "official" parties recognized in Massachusetts: Democrat or Republican. You may also choose to be unaffiliated (also known as "un-enrolled"). Finally, you may choose another "political designation" like the Green Party or any others that are not officially recognized by Massachusetts. 

Choosing "un-enrolled" does not prevent you from voting in Republican or Democratic primaries. If you choose to affiliate with another party, you may not vote in the primaries but you CAN vote in the presidential election.