How to vote using an absentee ballot

Ever since you registered to vote you've been dying to actually, well, VOTE.  Depending upon when you registered, this coming November may be your first chance to do so.  You're wicked excited and can't wait to head to the polls in just under a month.  But wait... your excitement begins to fade as you realize that [insert name of college town here] is really far away from your hometown.  Or maybe it's not, but even if you attend school rather close to your hometown, that still means you need to somehow get a ride to the polls--and you don't have a car...

Have no fear, the absentee ballot is here!

Don't know what an absentee ballot is? Below I will answer some questions about voting absentee in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Who can vote absentee?
(taken from the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website)

Massachusetts allows voters to vote by absentee ballot if they:

• will be absent from your city or town on election day, and/or

• have a physical disability that prevents your voting at the polling place, and/or

• cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs.

How do I vote absentee?

First you must request an absentee ballot by filling out the Absentee Ballot Application and mailing the application to your city or town hall.  There are mailing instructions on the application.

If filling out forms is not your thing, you can have a family member request your absentee ballot by filling out the Absentee Ballot Application by a Family Member.  

Once you have sent your application in, you will receive your absentee ballot in the mail along with instructions for how to fill it out and mail it in.  You can even track your ballot once it has been mailed to see if it has been received yet.

When is my absentee ballot "due" in order to be counted?

Your absentee ballot must be received by the time the polls close on election day. 



Still have questions?  Take a look at the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website for more FAQs and information.