How to Vote in Massachusetts: 2028 Deadlines, Early Voting & Poll Hours

To vote in the November 7, 2028 general election, register by 10 days before Election Day.

Dates marked ≈ are computed from state statute and can shift with county practice. Confirm your exact deadline and check your registration status at Massachusetts's official site.

Early voting opens ≈ October 17, 2026 — 17 days before Election Day (state general elections). It runs through 2 business days before Election Day.

Confirm exact locations and hours — which vary by county — at Massachusetts's official election site.

Any registered voter in Massachusetts may request a mail ballot — no excuse required. Request deadline: 5 business days before Election Day at 5 p.m..

Return rule: Postmarked on or before Election Day; must be received by 5 p.m. the third day after the election

Track your ballot: use Massachusetts's ballot tracker to see when your ballot was mailed, received and accepted.

Details and request forms are at Massachusetts's official election site.

No identifying document is requested to vote in person; the state verifies identity by other means, typically a signature match.

See the full list of accepted ID at Massachusetts's official election site.

Polls are open until 8 p.m. ET on November 7, 2028.

See how Massachusetts's closing time compares nationwide on the full poll closing times by state page, or confirm your local hours at Massachusetts's official election site.

Election-night totals are unofficial. The count becomes official in two steps:

• Local: City and town clerks — by about November 18, 2026. Within 15 days of the election.
• Statewide: Governor and Governor’s Council — November 18, 2026 on the 2026 calendar. Earliest date to certify.

Certifying is a required step, not a second vote on the result. What happens if a local board won’t sign off, every state’s deadlines and how a result can be challenged are on how election results are certified.