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2022 Massachusetts elections: How to vote

With Election Day coming up on Tuesday, many Massachusetts voters have already cast their ballots by mail or through early voting in person.

On the ballot: Governor Charlie Baker’s job, seats in Congress and the Massachusetts Legislature, four ballot questions tackling issues from income tax to driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants, and a handful of state and county elected positions.

Key dates:

Nov. 8: Election Day. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ballots must be returned in person to your local election office or to a drop box by 8 p.m. Ballots sent by mail must be postmarked no later than Nov. 8, and must be received by Nov. 12, 5 p.m.

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Ways to vote

In person: On Election Day, Nov. 8, polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., but all Massachusetts voters may cast their ballot early.

By mail: Applications for mail-in ballots closed on Nov. 1. The US Postal Service recommends planning for your ballot to take up to seven days to be delivered. You can track the status of your ballot online.

Mailed ballots can be returned via the included envelope, hand-delivered to your local election office, or dropped off at an early voting location or into a ballot drop box. Mail-in ballots must reach the local elections office by 5 p.m. on Nov. 12 in order to be counted, and they cannot be dropped off at a polling station on Election Day.

What do I need to cast my ballot?

Voters should be ready to share their name and home address and may be asked to provide proof of identity — that can be a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, recent utilities bill, or any other printed identification form that lists their name and address.

Poll workers may ask voters for identification if they are typically an inactive voter, casting a federal election ballot for the first time in Massachusetts, or casting a provisional or challenged ballot. Poll workers can also request identification if they have “reasonable suspicion,” according to the secretary of state’s office.

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Where can I vote?

You can find your nearest polling station by entering your address on the state secretary’s website. A complete list of polling locations and drop boxes is also available.

What’s on the ballot?

As Governor Charlie Baker steps down, Republican nominee Geoff Diehl, backed by former President Donald Trump, faces off against Democrat Maura Healey, who currently serves as attorney general. A September poll by the Globe and Suffolk University found Healey leading Deihl 52 percent to 26 percent.

Democrat Andrea Campbell and Republican James McMahon will compete for attorney general. For secretary of state, incumbent William Galvin faces off against Republican Rayla Campbell and Juan Sanchez of the Green-Rainbow Party.

In the race for treasurer, Libertarian Cristina Crawford is challenging incumbent Democrat Deborah B. Goldberg. Five candidates are up for state auditor: Anthony Amore, a Republican; Democrat Diana Dizoglio; Gloria Caballero-Roca of the Green-Rainbow Party; Dominic Giannone III of the Workers Party; and Libertarian Daniel Riek.

Down the ballot are seats in Congress, seats in the state’s General Court, sheriff positions, and some county commissioners.

This year’s general election also features 4 ballot questions. Question 1, commonly referred to as the millionaires tax, would increase income taxes by 4 percent on those earning more than $1 million a year. Question 2 would require dental insurers to spend no less than 83 percent of premiums on patient care if passed. Question 3 seeks to expand the availability of licenses to sell alcoholic beverages, increasing the number of licenses available to a single business. Question 4 deals with whether or not Massachusetts driver’s licenses will continue to be available to undocumented immigrants.

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A complete list of open seats and candidates can be found on the state secretary’s website. You may also enter your address to view a sample ballot.


Daniel Kool can be reached at daniel.kool@globe.com. Follow him @dekool01.