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Voting by Absentee Ballot:

Massachusetts permits excuse-required absentee voting in all elections for eligible voters. Early Vote by Mail is more common, and most absentee-eligible voters may use it instead. An absentee application is particularly relevant for military and overseas voters, voters who will be away on Election Day, emergency hospitalization cases, certain incarcerated voters, and qualifying voters in local elections where the municipality has opted out of Vote by Mail.

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Applications must generally reach the local election office by 5:00 p.m. on the fifth business day before the election, although emergency absentee ballots follow separate rules. This page provides more information.

 

Who Can Vote by Absentee Ballot?

You qualify for an absentee ballot if: 

  • You will be away from your city or town on Election Day.

  • A religious belief prevents you from voting at your polling place on Election Day.

  • A disability prevents you from voting at your polling place.

Early Vote by Mail is more common, while excuse-required absentee voting remains available in all elections to eligible voters.

 

When Is a Separate Absentee Ballot Application Needed?

Use an absentee ballot application if: 

  • You qualify for absentee voting and your city or town opted out of Vote by Mail for that local election.

  • You are on active military duty.

  • You are a U.S. citizen living outside the United States.

  • You will be away from your city or town on Election Day.

  • You need an emergency absentee ballot because of hospitalization.

  • You are incarcerated for a reason other than a felony conviction.

 

How to Apply

Download the absentee ballot application here. A signed letter can also serve as an application. Electronic signatures, scanned applications, and photos of signed applications are accepted. Typed signatures generally are not accepted unless the voter requires accommodations due to a physical disability.

Submit an absentee ballot application to your local election office:

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After your absentee ballot application is processed, your ballot will be mailed to you. The state provides a ballot tracking tool that shows when a ballot was mailed.

 

Important Deadline

Any mail-in ballot request must be received by the local election office by 5:00 PM on the 5thbusiness day before the election, although the state recommends applying 2 to 3 weeks before Election Day, especially if ballots will need to be mailed out of town.

Returning Your Ballot

You can return your ballot by: 

  • Mail

  • Hand delivery to your local election office

  • Official ballot drop box (main entrance of the Town Hall)

 

Important - Ballots cannot be dropped off at a polling place on Election Day

For most elections, ballots must reach the local election office by the close of polls on Election Day. In biennial November state elections, mailed domestic ballots may arrive up to three days later if postmarked by Election Day.

 

Emergency Absentee Ballots

If you are admitted to a healthcare facility within one week of the election, you may designate someone to obtain and return your ballot on your behalf. Emergency requests can be made until polls close on Election Day.

 

Tracking Your Ballot

Massachusetts provides a Track My Ballot tool that shows:

  • When your ballot was mailed

  • When it was returned

  • Whether it was accepted or rejected

 

Can You Still Vote In Person?

Yes. If you requested an absentee ballot but have not yet returned it, you may still vote in person. Once your absentee ballot has been accepted, you cannot vote again in person.

 

Quick Takeaway

For most Massachusetts voters, Vote by Mail is more common. Absentee ballots are primarily for voters who are away, have qualifying religious or disability-related reasons, are overseas or military voters, or need emergency accommodations. Apply early, return the ballot through an approved method, and use the state's tracking tool to confirm it was received and accepted.

 

Source: Massachusetts Absentee Voting Information [sec.state.ma.us]

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