How to Register to Vote

How to Register to Vote  The Precident

Who may register?

Only a person who is:

* a US citizen, and
* a resident of Massachusetts, and
* 18 years old on or before election day


How can I register to vote?

By Mail: Mail-in registration forms are widely available. To obtain a mail-in registration form please call 617-727-2828 or 1-800-462-VOTE and a form will be sent to you or you can download a National Voter Registration form. Mail the completed form to your local city or town hall. You should receive a confirmation notice in 2 to 3 weeks. If you do not, please contact your local election office to verify your voting status.

In Person: Go to any registration location and complete an affidavit of registration, which must be answered truthfully under the penalty of perjury. The questions on the affidavit will include your name, residence and date of birth.

At the Registry of Motor Vehicles: Keep your motor voter receipt until you receive confirmation from your local election official. If you do not receive any confirmation, please contact your local election office to verify your voting status.

When and where may I register?

There is no waiting period to be eligible to register to vote. If you move, you may register to vote as soon as you move into your new home.

You may register to vote:

* in person or by mail, by completing a mail-in registration form and delivering it to your city or town election office, or
* at any local election office in any city or town in the state and at any registration event you encounter anywhere in Massachusetts, or
* when applying for or renewing your driver's license at the Registry of Motor Vehicles or when applying for service at a designated voter registration agency.

Registration forms are also available at all colleges, universities, high schools and vocational schools.

What must I do if I've changed my address since I registered?

If you have moved within the same city or town, notify your local election office of your new address in writing. If you have moved to a new city or town, you must register again.

Are there deadlines for registration?

Yes. In order to vote you must be registered:

* 20 days before all primaries and elections, and/or
* 10 days before a special town meeting.

Do I need to attach identification to my voter registration form?

Yes, if you are registering to vote for the first time in Massachusetts. Because of a new federal law, the Help America Vote Act of 2002 passed by Congress, if you registered to vote by mail on or after January 1, 2003, you will be required to show identification when you vote for the first time in a federal election since registering by mail in 2003, or you can send in a copy of your identification with your voter registration form.
Acceptable identification must include your name and the address at which you are registered to vote, for example: a current and valid driver’s license, photo identification, current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document showing your name and address. If you send in a copy of your identification with your mail-in voter registration form, it may not be returned to you.
If you do not provide such identification, the Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires that you may only cast a provisional ballot which will be counted later, but only after your eligibility to vote has been determined

What should I do if I registered to vote and I have not heard from my local election official?

If you have NOT received confirmation of your voter status from your city or town election official within 2 or 3 weeks from the date you registered please contact your local election office to verify your voting status.

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