Boston, October 22, 2025
News Summary
Voters in Massachusetts need to be aware that the deadline to register for the upcoming elections is October 25, 2025. Elections for city officials, including the mayors of Boston and Worcester, will take place on November 4, 2025. Voter registration can be done online, by mail, or in person, and must be completed at least 10 days before any election. Proposed reforms aim to improve access for inactive voters and streamline registration processes.
Boston — The deadline to register to vote in Massachusetts’ upcoming elections is October 25, 2025. Voters should complete any new registration, party changes, or updates well before that date because voter registration, party changes, or updates must be completed at least 10 days before any election or town meeting.
What voters need to know now
City and town elections are scheduled for November 4, 2025, including elections for the mayor of Boston and Worcester city councilors. Fifty-five cities and towns in Massachusetts hold municipal elections every odd-numbered year, while other towns conduct annual town elections each spring. There is no same-day voter registration in Massachusetts; registration must be done 10 days in advance.
Registration options and requirements
Voter registration can be completed online, in person, or by mail. Online registration requires a valid state driver’s license or ID. If a voter does not have an ID, they can print and mail the voter registration form. Voters can check their registration status online.
Identification and Election Day voting
Voting in person is allowed on Election Day; voters might need to show identification. If identification is not available, voters can submit a challenged ballot.
Early voting and mail ballots
Municipalities may offer in-person early voting for city and town elections. Early voting in Worcester and Quincy runs from October 25 to 31 at the Worcester Public Library Main Branch and Quincy City Hall, respectively. Boston also offers early voting during the same timeframe with specific dates and locations available online.
Most local elections allow no-excuse early voting by mail. Ballot requests can be made online, by mail, or via email/fax, and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the fifth business day before the election. Ballots can be returned by mail, hand delivery, dropped off at early voting locations, or via ballot drop boxes. Ballots must be received by the close of polls on Election Day.
Scope of the registration problem and proposed reforms
The municipal voter list in Massachusetts had 770,000 inactive voters as of 2024, representing 15% of registered voters. Existing laws deem voters inactive if they do not respond to the annual street list and may lead to them being removed from the active voter rolls if they fail to vote in two consecutive federal elections. Advocates claim that many voters are unaware of their inactive status due to missing responses to the annual street list, which could disenfranchise them.
Proposed legislation seeks to disconnect the municipal census from voter registration to reduce barriers to voting, though it has faced pushback from some sectors. Among other proposals, the proposed reforms include allowing same-day voter registration. Supporters of changes are pushing for enhanced voting access, including measures to assist voters with disabilities.
Recent election reviews found that provisional ballots made up a significant portion of rejected ballots in recent elections, with missed registration deadlines contributing to disenfranchisement. The state is under pressure to adopt reforms in light of new federal voting standards that could impose stricter requirements. Public discussions surrounding these reforms emphasize the importance of making voting more accessible for all citizens, particularly for marginalized communities.
Practical steps for voters
- Confirm registration status online well before October 25, 2025.
- If registering online, have a valid state driver’s license or ID ready.
- If requesting a mail ballot, remember that ballot requests must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the fifth business day before the election.
- Plan for early voting between October 25 and 31 if using in-person early voting in Worcester, Quincy, or Boston, or check local municipal listings for other locations and hours.
- Return mail ballots early to ensure they are received by the close of polls on Election Day.
Background
Massachusetts law requires voter registration and related updates to be completed 10 days before an election or town meeting. Municipalities have varied practices for scheduling early voting and handling mail ballots, and municipal election calendars differ between cities that hold elections every odd-numbered year and towns that typically hold spring elections. The combination of inactive voter lists, annual street list responses, and registration deadlines has produced calls for legislative action to reduce the number of inactive voters and to expand access to registration and voting.
FAQ
Q: When is the deadline to register to vote in Massachusetts’ upcoming elections?
A: The deadline to register to vote in Massachusetts’ upcoming elections is October 25, 2025.
Q: How soon must voter registration, party changes, or updates be completed?
A: Voter registration, party changes, or updates must be completed at least 10 days before any election or town meeting.
Q: When are city and town elections scheduled, and which offices are included?
A: City and town elections are scheduled for November 4, 2025, including elections for the mayor of Boston and Worcester city councilors.
Q: Can I register on Election Day in Massachusetts?
A: There is no same-day voter registration in Massachusetts; registration must be done 10 days in advance.
Q: Where and when is early voting available in Worcester, Quincy, and Boston?
A: Early voting in Worcester and Quincy runs from October 25 to 31 at the Worcester Public Library Main Branch and Quincy City Hall, respectively. Boston also offers early voting during the same timeframe with specific dates and locations available online.
Q: How and when must ballot requests and returned ballots be handled?
A: Ballot requests can be made online, by mail, or via email/fax, and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the fifth business day before the election. Ballots must be received by the close of polls on Election Day.
Q: How many inactive voters were on the municipal list as of 2024?
A: The municipal voter list in Massachusetts had 770,000 inactive voters as of 2024, representing 15% of registered voters.
Q: What reforms are being proposed to address voter access?
A: Proposed legislation seeks to disconnect the municipal census from voter registration to reduce barriers to voting, though it has faced pushback from some sectors. The proposed reforms include allowing same-day voter registration.
Quick reference table
| Topic | Key information |
|---|---|
| Registration deadline | The deadline to register to vote in Massachusetts’ upcoming elections is October 25, 2025. |
| Advance-registration rule | Voter registration, party changes, or updates must be completed at least 10 days before any election or town meeting. |
| Election day | City and town elections are scheduled for November 4, 2025, including elections for the mayor of Boston and Worcester city councilors. |
| Same-day registration | There is no same-day voter registration in Massachusetts; registration must be done 10 days in advance. |
| Early voting (Worcester & Quincy) | Early voting in Worcester and Quincy runs from October 25 to 31 at the Worcester Public Library Main Branch and Quincy City Hall, respectively. |
| Early voting (Boston) | Boston also offers early voting during the same timeframe with specific dates and locations available online. |
| Mail ballot requests | Ballot requests can be made online, by mail, or via email/fax, and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the fifth business day before the election. |
| Mail ballot return | Ballots must be received by the close of polls on Election Day. |
| Inactive voters (2024) | The municipal voter list in Massachusetts had 770,000 inactive voters as of 2024, representing 15% of registered voters. |
| Proposed reforms | Proposed legislation seeks to disconnect the municipal census from voter registration to reduce barriers to voting, though it has faced pushback from some sectors. The proposed reforms include allowing same-day voter registration. |
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Additional Resources
- Cape Cod Times: MA Town Election Information
- Telegram: Same-Day Voter Registration Proposal
- MassLive: Voter Issues in November Election
- Wikipedia: Voter Registration in the United States
- Google Search: Voter Registration Massachusetts
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
