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Who is eligible to vote?
To be eligible to vote in Massachusetts, you must be a
Massachusetts resident and U.S. citizen who will be at least 18 years old on
Election Day; you cannot be under legal guardianship with respect to voting; in
jail by reason of felony conviction; or convicted of election fraud even if the
jail sentence is completed. To vote, you must also have registered to vote.
Can I vote if I can’t get to the polls on Election Day?
Yes. If you are registered to vote, you can cast an
absentee ballot if you will be absent from your city or town on Election Day, if
you have a physical disability preventing you from voting at the polling place,
or if your religious beliefs prevent you from voting on Election Day.
Do I have to be registered to vote absentee?
Yes (voter registration information follows). Several
exceptions exist; those outside of Massachusetts who are members of the armed
forces or merchant marine and their spouses and dependents do not have to be
registered to vote absentee. They apply for an absentee ballot to the local
election office in the community where they last resided inside the country.
How do I apply for an absentee ballot?
You must apply in writing to the local election office in
the city or town where you are registered, either by filling out an application
form or by writing a letter. Application forms for absentee ballots are
available at your local election office. Most local election offices are in the
City or Town Hall. You can also download the
absentee ballot application form at votinginfo.info.
If you write a letter requesting an absentee ballot, include your name, address
as registered, ward or precinct if you know it, address where you want the
absentee ballot sent, which political party ballot you want if the election is a
primary (you must be either registered to vote in the party you request or
unenrolled, that is, not registered as belonging to any party), and your
signature. If you wish to vote absentee for more than one election in a year,
you can fill out one application and ask that ballots for all elections in that
calendar year be sent to you.
Can someone else apply for me for an absentee ballot?
Yes, a family member can apply for an absentee ballot for
you to the city or town where you are registered. They can apply either by
letter including all the information listed above or they can use a special
absentee ballot application for family members, which is
available at www.votinginfo.info.
Do I have to include identification with my absentee ballot?
You do not have to include identification with your
absentee ballot if you have voted previously in a state or presidential primary
or in a state or federal election. You do have to include suitable
identification the first time you vote in Massachusetts if you registered to
vote by mail after January 2003, or if the identification number you provided on
your Voter Registration Form (your driver’s license number or the last four
digits of your Social Security number) could not be verified.
Suitable identification, which must show your name and address, includes a copy
of a current and valid photo identification, current utility bill, bank
statement, government check, paycheck or other government document. If you don’t
mail in the required identification, your absentee ballot will be considered
provisional. Provisional voting means that every voter will be able to cast a
ballot. If you are later determined to be eligible, your vote will be counted.
What are the deadlines for voting absentee?
The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot is noon on the day before an
election. Of course, if you plan to vote by mail, your application must be
submitted with enough time for the absentee ballot to get to you and for you to
mail it so it is received at the local election office before the deadline for
return of absentee ballots, which is the close of the polls on Election Day.
If you are going to vote in the local election office, you may be able to apply
for an absentee ballot and vote in the same visit. Absentee ballots are
generally available three weeks before an election. If you reside outside the
U.S., for local and primary elections your absentee ballot must arrive by the
close of polls (8 p.m.) on Election Day. For federal elections your absentee
ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive at the local election
office no later than 10 days after the election.
Do I have to reapply for an absentee ballot for every election?
Not necessarily. The absentee ballot application asks you
to designate which election(s) you are applying for. An absentee ballot
application can be made for a single election or for all elections in a calendar
year.
Note: If your address changes within a calendar year you must submit a new
application for an absentee ballot. This is especially important for college
students who are usually focused on an academic year, not a calendar year.
If you are permanently disabled, you can file a doctor’s letter with the local
election office that states that you are permanently unable to vote at the polls
due to a physical disability. The local election office will automatically mail
you an application for an absentee ballot for all elections in a calendar year.
You must sign the application and send it back to your local election office.
How do I complete and return my absentee ballot?
Do not fold, bend or damage the ballot in any way. Place
the ballot in the small envelope that has an affidavit on the front. Sign the
affidavit and seal the ballot in that envelope. Be sure to sign your name as you
registered. The absentee ballot is mailed to you in the name you are registered.
Then place the sealed envelope in the larger envelope provided and mail or bring
it to your local election office.
The absentee ballot can be delivered to your local election office by a family
member. In some cases, a designated health care facility will have election
officials distribute absentee ballots.
Can I change my mind and vote at the polling place if I have sent in an absentee
ballot?
Yes, as long as your absentee ballot has not been
processed at the polling place
Must my absentee ballot be witnessed?
No.
Can someone help me mark my absentee ballot?
Yes. Whoever helps you must print his or her name and your name in the
designated place on the envelope that is sent with the absentee ballot, write
the reason the voter needed help, and sign his or her name as the assisting
person.
Can I register to vote at the polls?
No. You must register in advance. The last day to register to vote for all
elections is 20 days before the election.
Where and how do I register?
You can register to vote in person at any local election office*, at any
registration event, and at the following state agency offices: Registry of Motor
Vehicles, Department of Transitional Assistance, Division of Medical Assistance,
Commission for the Blind, Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, Department of Mental Health, Department
of Mental Retardation, or the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
You can also register to vote by mail. Mail-in Voter Registration Forms are
available at all local election offices, and anyone can pick up a copy for you.
Or you can use the Internet to request that a Voter Registration Form be mailed
to you. Go to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s site,
or call 617-727-2828 or 800-462-VOTE, or go to the League of Women Voters’ site, or call 617-523- 2999
or 800-882-1649.
Complete and mail the form as directed. It must be postmarked by the
registration deadline or it can be hand-delivered to any local election office
by the voter registration deadline.
Do I need identification to register to vote?
Yes. Voter Registration Forms require your driver’s license number or the last
four digits of your Social Security number. If you have neither, write “none” in
the box on the form. You must then provide a copy of your identification either
with your mail-in Voter Registration Form or at the polling location when you
vote for the first time.
Suitable identification, which must show your name and address, includes a copy
of a current and valid photo identification, current utility bill, bank
statement, government check, paycheck or other government document.
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