Absentee & Vote by Mail Information

Absentee Voting

In order to be eligible to vote by absentee ballot in Massachusetts, a voter must be prevented from voting at their polling place on Election Day, due to: Absence from the voter's city or town on Election Day; Physical disability; or Religious belief.

Applying for Absentee Ballots - Must Be Submitted Annually After January 1

Absentee ballots must be requested in writing by either the voter or the voter's family member. For convenience, absentee ballot applications may be downloaded from this page; however, any written communication evidencing a desire for an absentee ballot is acceptable but must contain the voter's signature. If you would like to request an absentee ballot, you may submit an application or a signed letter to your local election official. If you are requesting an absentee ballot for a family member, be sure to submit the request to the voter's local election official.

When completing the application, you may indicate whether you are requesting a ballot for a specific election, or if you will be needing a ballot for all elections this year. Please note that absentee ballot applications expire at the end of each calendar year. If you are a voter with a permanent physical disability, you may file a note from your doctor to that effect with your local election official. Voters with permanent physical disabilities are sent new applications at the beginning of each year, to be signed and returned to their local election official.

All requests for absentee ballots must be received by your local election official no later than 5 pm on the 5th BUSINESS day before the election for which the ballot is being requested. Applications may be submitted in person, by mail, fax, or by email, or drop box; however, the local election official must be able to view the signature of the person requesting the ballot. If the application is being submitted by email, a scanned copy of the signed request must be submitted. A voter admitted to a health care facility after 12 pm on the seventh day before the election can request a hand-delivered AV ballot.

Absentee in-person voting is also available at the Election Office until noon on the last business day before the election. Early voting is also available for specific elections.

Absentee Ballot Application - print, sign, and mail!

New in 2023 - Vote by Mail for Local Elections - In accordance with the Votes Act of 2022 and effective June 22, 2022, a Vote by Mail for local elections is required unless the Board of Selectmen opts out at a Public Hearing held not less than 45 days before the Annual Town Election.

Accommodations

If you have a disability that prevents you from marking a paper ballot independently, you may qualify to use the Accessible Vote by Mail system. Visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth Election information page for voters with disabilities to find more information and an Accessible Vote by Mail Application.

Accessible Vote by Mail Ballot

In most elections in Massachusetts, voters can choose to vote by mail. Accessible vote-by-mail ballots are available for certain voters. If you are blind have a vision impairment, have a mobility or dexterity disability, or have another disability that makes it difficult for you to mark a paper ballot, you can request an accessible vote-by-mail ballot. Print an Accessible Vote by Mail Application

When are Absentee & Early in-person or Early Vote by Mail Ballots Counted?

Except for ballots that are rejected as defective, all absentee and early ballots are considered cast on the date received in the Office of the Town Clerk and are processed by the poll workers on Election Day. Absentee ballots and all early-voted ballots are included in the final tallies on Election Day.