Election season is fast approaching in Massachusetts. State primaries are set for Sept. 1 and the general election will be on Nov. 3.
This year’s primaries give voters the chance to select candidates for state and federal offices. The nine ballot questions won’t appear on the ticket until the general election.
Check out all of GBH News’ coverage for more information as Election Day approaches.
Here’s what you need to know to cast your vote.
Important dates
Mark these key dates on your calendar:
- Aug. 22, 2026: Deadline to register to vote for primaries
- Aug. 25, 2026: Deadline by 5 p.m. to vote by mail
- Aug. 22-28: Early voting period
- Sept. 1, 2026: Primary election. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
You can check your voter registration status here.
Massachusetts now offers unrestricted voting by mail for all state primaries and general elections.
How to register to vote
If you have never registered before, want to switch political parties, recently became a citizen or if you’ve moved since the last time you voted — even if it’s within the same district — you need to register to vote.
You can register to vote online,by mail or in person. Learn more here to access the necessary forms, or check with your local election office. You’ll need to provide a driver’s license, state ID or social security number to register. You may be asked, in certain situations — for example, if it’s your first time voting — to show documents with your name such as a bank statement or utility bill when you go to vote in-person.
In Massachusetts, you don’t have to be enrolled in a party to vote in its primary. If you’re unenrolled, you can vote in the Republican or Democratic primaries. A previously affiliated voter must update their registration at least 10 days before a primary to vote in a different party’s primary.
The winner of a primary election in Massachusetts is the candidate who receives the greatest number of votes, even if the candidate does not receive an outright majority of votes cast.
Who can vote?
Anyone can register, as long as you are:
- 18 years old, or will be 18 by the time of the election (you can pre-register when you’re 16)
- A U.S. citizen and resident of Massachusetts
- Not currently incarcerated for a felony
If you’re doing certain things at the Registry of Motor Vehicles or MassHealth, such as applying to renew your driver’s license or applying for MassHealth benefits, you may be automatically registered to vote. But if you’ve moved recently, you still need to re-register.
Candidates on your ballot
Massachusetts voters will be casting votes for U.S. senators and representatives, governor, attorney general, lieutenant governor, secretary of the commonwealth, auditor, treasurer, district attorneys and state lawmakers.
Read up on your officials and where they stand on the issues:
U.S. Senator
The U.S. Senate race pits incumbent Democrat Sen. Ed Markey against challenger Seth Moulton, who currently represents the North Shore in the House of Representatives. Republican John Deaton is running unopposed on the Republican ballot.
Elizabeth Warren’s name won’t appear on the ballot: She won her last six-year term in 2024.
U.S. House of Representatives
Seats in the House of Representatives are up for election every two years. Use this federal lookup tool to check your district and see who represents you in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Read our coverage of the incumbents and their challengers here.
In the 1st District, incumbent Democrat Rep. Richard Neal is facing a primary challenge from Jeromie Whalen. No Republicans are running for the seat.
In the 2nd District, incumbent Democrat Rep. Jim McGovern has no primary challengers. No Republican candidates are running for office.
In the 3rd District, incumbent Democrat Rep. Lori Trahan is not facing any primary challengers. Gary Grossi is the only candidate on the Republican ticket.
In the 4th District, incumbent Rep. Jake Auchincloss and Jason Poulos will be on the Democratic ballot. Thomas Stalcup is the only Republican running.
In the 5th District, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark is facing two challengers: Jonathan Paz and Tarik Samman. No Republicans are running in the 5th District.
In the 6th District, several candidates are vying for the North Shore seat as Rep. Seth Moulton vacates it. Bethany Andres-Beck, John Beccia, Jamie Belsito, Dan Koh, Mariah Lancaster and Tram Nguyen are all hoping to come out on top of the Democratic Party primary. Micah Quinney Jones is the only Republican running.
In the 7th District, incumbent Democrat Rep. Ayanna Pressley is the only Democrat running for office. No Republicans are running.
In the 8th District, incumbent Democrat Rep. Stephen Lynch is being challenged by Patrick Roath. Robert Gerald Burke is the only Republican seeking the seat.
In the 9th District, incumbent Rep. Bill Keating and Craig Swallow will both be on the Democratic Party ticket. One Republican, R. Tyler MacAllister, will be on the party primary ballot.
Constitutional offices
All the incumbent Democrats are running for reelection — and none of them are facing challengers from inside their party.
In the race for governor, Michael Minogue and Brian Shortsleeve are vying to clinch the Republican primary. Incumbent Democrat Maura Healey is not facing any primary challengers.
Candidates for lieutenant governor are incumbent Democrat Kim Driscoll and Republican Shawn Oliver. Republican Anne Manning Martin has also launched a write-in campaign.
For attorney general, there is no primary competition. One Democrat — incumbent Andrea Joy Campbell — and one Republican — Michael Walsh — will be on the party ballots.
Current secretary of the commonwealth William Galvin running unopposed. The Democrat has no opponents in the primary or general election.
State auditor Diana DiZoglio, a Democrat, is the only Democratic or Republican candidate running for the seat.
District attorneys
Incumbent Timothy Shugrue, the Berkshires district attorney, is a Democrat running unopposed for another term.
The current Bristol district attorney, Thomas Quinn, is not seeking reelection. But the choice for voters will come in November: Both major parties are just running one candidate. Democrat state Rep. Christopher Markey and Republican Seth Aitken are seeking the seat.
In the race for Cape & Islands district attorney, Democrat incumbent Robert J. Galibois is facing challenger Michael Giardino. Listen to CAI’s debate between the candidates here. No Republicans are seeking the seat.
Essex District Attorney Paul Tucker, a Democratic incumbent, is running unopposed for another term.
Hampden’s district attorney, Anthony Gulluni, is seeking another term. The Democrat has no Republican or Democratic opponents.
Democrat Joseph Early, the Worcester district attorney in the Middle District, is running unopposed for another term.
With current Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey opting not to seek reelection, a crowded field of Democrats have sprung up: Jim Barakat, Greg Connor, Adam W. Deitch, Robert Louis Jubinville, Macy Lee, Craig MacLellan and Djuna Elizabeth Perkins. No Republicans have entered the race.
Marian Ryan, the Middlesex district attorney in the Northern District, is facing a Democratic challenger on the party ticket: David Marc Sole. No Republicans are seeking the seat.
Dave Sullivan, the incumbent Northwestern district attorney, is running unopposed as a Democrat. No other major party candidates are seeking the seat.
The longtime Republican Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz is seeking another term. No other Democrats or Republicans are running.
Incumbent Suffolk district attorney Kevin Hayden, a Democrat, is seeking a secont term. He will meet two challengers on the primary ballot: Rachael Rollins and Linda Champion. No Republicans are running for the seat.
State representatives and senators
Legislative office in Massachusetts is rarely competitive. With elections every two years, fewer than 1 in 10 seats are vacating this cycle. Only 14% of incumbents are facing a primary challenger, and about a quarter will face an opponent in the general election.
Use this lookup tool from the state to find who your state lawmakers are, and check your ballot here to see there will be competition in your party’s primary for your state senator or state representative.
Read up on GBH News’ coverage of select races, like the competition for Lowell’s state representative seat.
Your options for voting
Once you’ve registered and done your research on the issues and candidates, it’s time to vote.
Absentee voting and vote by mail
If you won’t be home on Election Day, are serving in the military or living overseas, are currently incarcerated, or you have religious beliefs or a disability that prevent you from voting in person at your polling place, you may be eligible to vote with an absentee ballot. You can apply by mail, email or fax through your local election office. You’d be using the same ballots as voters who vote by mail and need to meet the same deadlines.
All other voters are entitled to vote by mail for any reason, as long as you’re already registered to vote. Every Massachusetts resident should be sent an application in the mail before the election. You can also apply online.
Officials urge voters to apply as early as they can to allow enough time for the mail to arrive. While you’re waiting, you can use the online ballot tracker to follow the status of your ballot.
You can also choose to return your mail-in ballots in person at your city or town’s local election office or ballot drop boxes — but not your polling location on Election Day. View Boston’s locations around the city.
Early voting
If you prefer to vote in person, you can get a head start and vote early, no reason needed. But where you vote early will be different from your typical Election Day poll site.
Check your city and town’s early voting dates and locations on the secretary of state’s website.
Vote in person on Election Day
You can always vote in person Tuesday, Sept. 1. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find your polling location here and view your ballot through this lookup tool.
In most cases, you will not be asked to show an ID to vote. There are only some cases, like if you’re voting for the first time, that a poll worker may ask to see your ID. Your proof of identification can be a license, recent utility bill or a copy of your rental lease.
If you don’t have your ID with you, it’s your right to request a provisional ballot. You can then return to the polling location before it closes to have your ID verified and your vote counted.
You can also cast a provisional ballot if your name isn’t on the list at your polling location. You can ask the poll worker to call the local election office to confirm your registration.
How to vote if you’re a college student
College students are allowed to vote using their Massachusetts school residence address. You can decide if you prefer to register in your home state or in Massachusetts if you attend school there. You may only be registered and vote in one location.
How to vote if you have a disability
Massachusetts requires that all polling locations are physically accessible, which should include accessible parking, entrances and ramps wherever there are stairs.
Click here to see more information.
