Your 2020 Vote-by-Mail Guide
Vote-by-Mail provides Massachusetts voters with a safe and efficient way to have our voices counted. Vote-by-Mail will also be a significant component of the 2020 election results, both statewide and nationally. But take note: if you wish to Vote-by-Mail in the September 1 primary, be advised that time is of the essence!
Therefore, in coordination with MassCreative’s popular Creative the Vote campaign, MALC is publishing what all Massachusetts voters need to know about voting by mail:
Step 1: You need a ballot application
All eligible MA voters should have received their Vote-by-Mail ballot applications by now, unless you previously registered for an absentee ballot. If you didn’t receive a ballot application, you need to check your voter registration:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/
If you are registered but have not received your Vote-by-Mail application, you may apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot online:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2020-Vote-by-Mail-Application.pdf
[note color=”#ffeb99″]
IF YOU NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE
You can register online:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/Welcome.aspx
or by mail:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howreg.htm
or at your city or town hall.[/note]
The voter registration deadline for the 2020 Massachusetts primary is Aug. 22.
Step 2: Submit your completed ballot application
While completing your ballot application, you will have the choice to request a ballot in your preferred language, and whether you wish a ballot for the September 1 primary or the November 3 general election or all 2020 elections. Also, if you are registered as an Independent, you must select the party you will be voting with in the primary.
All ballot application requests need to be mailed or dropped off at your local election office, which can be found in the following link:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleclk/clkidx.htm
Once your application is approved, the state will mail an official election ballot to your address.
Step 3: Complete your ballot and return It
Upon receiving and completing your ballot, mail it to your local election office, or drop it off at a polling station or a designated drop-box location (yet to be published). Election offices do include city or town clerks and local election commissions.
Your completed ballot must be received by your local election officials no later than 8 p.m. on Sept. 1, to be counted for the primary.
IMPORTANT!
Although the cutoff date for election officials to receive your ballot application is Aug. 26 for the Primary (October 28 for the General), recent mail delays indicate that you must allow extra time for your Vote-by-Mail ballot to delivered to election officials. Plan for a total turnaround time of 2-3 weeks from the time you request your ballot to when officials receive your completed ballot. If time is short, you should consider delivering your competed ballot by hand.
Additional Resources
Vote-by-Mail FAQ:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleev/early-voting-faq.htm
Tracking your Vote-by-Mail ballot:
http://trackmyballotma.com/
General Voting Information for MA:
https://www.mass.gov/topics/voting
https://www.vote411.org/massachusetts
Alternatives, if you have run out of time
Early Voting:
If you receive your ballot but don’t think election officials will receive it by the September 1 Primary deadline (October 28 for the General) and you do not wish to hand-deliver your ballot, you may elect to do early in-person voting. The MA primary early in-person voting will run from Saturday, Aug. 22, until Friday, Aug. 28. Early voting times, dates and locations will be posted for each city or town.
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleev/early-voting-in-person.htm
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