Accessible Voting
Massachusetts has implemented an Accessible Electronic Voting System as the result of the VOTES act. Boston voters may now request, receive, complete, and return their ballot electronically for the upcoming Preliminary Municipal Election on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, by using a secure web portal if they are unable to mark a paper ballot because of a disability.
The Accessible Electronic Voting System is available to voters who are unable to independently read, write, hold, or physically manipulate or mark ballots. This could be due to:
- blindness or vision impairments
- mobility or dexterity disabilities, or
- other disabilities that make it difficult or impossible to effectively access a paper Vote by Mail ballot.
The Accessible Electronic Voting system allows voters to independently and privately submit their ballot via a secure electronic delivery system. This system is compatible with screen readers. To access it, you must first submit a complete Vote by Mail application to your local election official. Boston residents make requests through the Boston Election Department. The deadline to make a request for the Preliminary Municipal Election is 5 p.m., Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
Please note: To get access to the electronic ballot, you will need to provide your email address.
After your request is approved, the Boston Election Department will email you instructions for accessing the system. That email will include a unique Access PIN to use when logging in, and information about returning your completed ballot.