Elections Center
State Election Guide
Massachusetts 2026 election calendar with upcoming election dates, voter registration deadlines, early voting, absentee voting, poll hours, and official sources.
Before You Vote
In all state elections and primaries, polling places must be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., though towns are allowed to open as early as 5:45 a.m. Voters who are in line when polls are closed at 8 p.m. must be allowed to vote. ,For municipal elections, polling hours will vary by city and town. Check with your local election official for polling hours for your municipal election.
Voter Information Lookup can help you check your voter registration status, check your polling place location, and view your sample ballot.
Massachusetts's current statewide calendar includes Massachusetts Primary Election 2026 on September 1, 2026 and Massachusetts General Election 2026 on November 3, 2026. Local ballots may include additional races, questions, or measures.
In Massachusetts, every registered voter can vote in a primary election. You do not need to be a party member to participate, but your party registration may affect your ballot options.
Election Calendar
Massachusetts Primary Election 2026
Congressional and State Primary elections for nomination of candidates of political parties are held on the seventh Tuesday preceding biennial state elections.
Poll hours: 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Official Massachusetts Primary Election 2026 source
Early voting starts 10 days before Election for Presidential or state primaries. Please confirm schedule adjustments with your local election office.
You can register or pre-register to vote with a mail-in voter registration form. Print, fill out, and sign the voter registration form. Mail the signed form to your local election office. Your voter registration form...
The deadline to register to vote, update your registration, or change your party is 10 days before any election or town meeting. Please confirm schedule adjustments with your local election office.
Voter registration forms submitted online must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the date of the voter registration deadline. Please confirm schedule adjustments with your local election office.
Vote by Mail Application Deadline is 5 p.m., August 25
Early voting ends four days before Election Day.
Massachusetts General Election 2026
November General election is held the Tuesday after the first Monday of the month of November
Poll hours: 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Official Massachusetts General Election 2026 source
Early voting starts 17 days preceding a biennial state election and any city or town election held on the same day as a biennial state election. Please confirm schedule adjustments with your local election office.
You can register or pre-register to vote with a mail-in voter registration form. Print, fill out, and sign the voter registration form. Mail the signed form to your local election office. Your voter registration form...
The deadline to register to vote, update your registration, or change your party is 10 days before any election or town meeting. Please confirm schedule adjustments with your local election office.
Voter registration forms submitted online must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the date of the voter registration deadline. Please confirm schedule adjustments with your local election office.
Vote by Mail Application Deadline: 5 p.m., October 27
Early voting ends four days before Election Day.
Election Day Rules
No owner, superintendent or overseer in any manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile establishment shall employ or permit to be employed therein any person entitled to vote at an election, during the period of two hours after the opening of the polls in the voting precinct, ward or town in which such person is entitled to vote, if he shall make application for leave of absence during such period.
a driver's license
Voter ID: None
No. Massachusetts does not list same-day voter registration. You must register by the voter registration deadline to vote in a Massachusetts election.