With Election Day approaching on Nov. 5, Massachusetts voters can begin casting early ballots in person on Saturday, joining the hundreds of thousands who have already begun submitting their ballots by mail.
In several states, early voting has been underway for the past few weeks.
As of Thursday, Massachusetts voters have returned 279,821 mail-in ballots, contributing to the 7,036,530 early ballots cast nationwide for the 2024 general election, according to the Associated Press. In 2020, nearly two-thirds of voters opted to vote early, a significant increase driven by the pandemic and part of a broader trend toward voting before Election Day.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State William L. Galvin’s office said it had mailed out more than 1.3 million ballots to state voters.
Along with selecting a president and voting in key races for the US House and Senate, Massachusetts voters will face five ballot questions, the largest number of ballot questions since 2000, when eight were presented to voters.
Here’s what you need to know to cast your ballot early in the state:
When is early voting in Massachusetts?
Early voting in Massachusetts starts on Saturday, Oct. 19, and runs through Friday, Nov. 1.
How do you vote early in Massachusetts?
Voters can choose to vote by mail or in person.
Anyone who is registered to vote in Massachusetts and hasn’t yet cast a mail-in ballot can show up and vote at an early voting location in their city or town.
Another option for voting before Election Day is to cast your ballot by mail. You can request a mail-in ballot online, and the state also sends mail-in ballot applications to all registered voters 45 days prior to an election.
To avoid potential postal delays, the state advises submitting your mail-in ballot at least two to three weeks prior to Election Day.
Where do I vote early in person?
The dates and locations for early voting differ by city and town. A complete list of these details is available on the secretary of state’s website.
When is the Massachusetts voter registration deadline?
If you are not yet registered to vote in Massachusetts, there’s still time to do so before the state’s deadline. The last day to register to vote is Saturday, Oct. 26, and you can register online at the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s website.
Voters can also update their address or name and change their political party designation online.
What do I need to bring when I vote in-person?
If this is your first time voting in the state or if you are listed as an inactive voter, you will need to show identification when you check in at your polling place. An ID must include the voter’s name and the address where they are registered to vote.
Here are some acceptable forms of identification according to the state’s website.
- A driver’s license
- A state ID card
- A recent utility bill
- A rent receipt or lease
- A copy of a voter registration affidavit
- A letter from a school dormitory or housing office
- Any other printed identification which contains your name and address
Further reading
How voting before Election Day became so widespread and so political
Want to follow election results like a pro? Here’s what to watch in key states.
Alyssa Vega can be reached at alyssa.vega@globe.com.