Related Information
Voter Registration
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Online, by mail, and in person. | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Deadline | Twenty (20) days prior to election. | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Automatic | Yes | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Same Day | No | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
Absentee Ballot Application
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excuse | Absence, physical disability, and religious reasons. | No excuse needed | No Legislative Activity |
| Automatic | No | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Deadline | Noon the day before election | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Valid for X# of Cycles | Same cycle only | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
Absentee Ballot Return (other than by mail)
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voter ID | Not required | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| In Person | Yes | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Drop Box | Not mentioned in statutes | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Return Deadline | Poll closure on election day | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
Ballot Harvesting
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibited | No | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Limited 3rd Party | Family member or healthcare facility employee. | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Paid Political Operatives | Not allowed | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
Early Voting
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| By Mail | Yes | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| In Person | Yes | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
Voter Identification - Absentee Ballot
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature Verification | Yes | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Witness Statement | No | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Other | - | - | - |
| Cure Process | Voters have until deadline to submit a new ballot if there is an issue with their old one. | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
Voter Identification - In Person
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Not required | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Other Options | Non-photo ID also allowed | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Provisional Ballots | Must be replaced by a new ballot before end of election day. | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
Voting Day
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Wait Time | Not mentioned | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Electioneering | 250 feet | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Other | - | - | - |
Voter Rolls
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Update Frequency | Updated continuously | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
| Voter Removal | Death or moving | No Change | No Legislative Activity |
With election reforms stalled on Beacon Hill, some would-be voters are left out
August 31, 2021
One of the most interesting — and potentially transformative — Boston elections is just around the Labor Day corner. But for those who may have newly arrived in town or those just awaking to the reality of the hottest of mayoral races but didn’t register to vote by last week’s deadline, well, they’ll have to sit this one out. (Those wanting to vote in the Nov. 2 final will have until Oct. 13 to register.)
That long lead time is as unfortunate as it is unnecessary. Election Day voter registration is no longer some pie-in-the-sky radical idea — technological advances have helped make it not only possible but also nearly foolproof. And if the Massachusetts Legislature didn’t work at its usual glacial pace, it could have already been the law here.
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