Vote by Mail in Boston

How to Apply

Apply online

If you are a registered voter, you may submit your vote-by-mail application online through the Massachusetts Mail-in Ballot Application System:

mail-in Ballot online application

apply by mail or fax

If you want to mail or fax your application, you can download one:

You can scan your signed application and email it back to us at absenteevoter@boston.gov or fax it to us at 617-635-4483. You can also drop off or mail your completed application to:

Elections Department

1 City Hall Square, Room 241

Boston, MA 02201

Office hours: Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DEADLINE

Applications to request a vote-by-mail ballot must be received by Tuesday, September 5 at 5 p.m. for the Preliminary Municipal Election on Tuesday, September 12

Tracking your ballot

Boston voters can track their ballot requested by mail through the state's website. We will start mailing out ballots as soon as possible. We will continue to mail ballots as applications arrive, until the September 5 application deadline.

Complete Your Ballot

Mail your ballot right away

You can mail the ballot to the address on the envelope. Please submit your completed ballot as soon as possible. The Boston Election Department has provided postage paid envelopes for the return of voted ballots.

Please note: All ballots must reach the Boston Election office by the close of polls on Election Day to be counted.

You can track your ballot through the state's website. Make sure to call the Elections Department at 617-635-8683 before Election Day if you haven't seen movement in the tracker.

RETURNing YOUR BALLOT IN PERSON?

If you plan to return your ballot in person instead of mailing it, we have dedicated drop boxes available across the City, including at Boston City Hall. You have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to drop off your ballot.

All drop boxes will be monitored by surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week leading up until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Please note:

Ballots CANNOT be dropped off at polling locations on Election Day.

Drop box map

View a map of ballot drop boxes across the City. You can also drop your ballot off at any early voting location during the early voting period.

Show Map

List of drop box locations

Location	Address	Neighborhood
Honan-Allston Branch Library	300 N Harvard St, Allston, Massachusetts, 02134	Allston/ Brighton
Brighton Branch Library	40 Academy Hill Road, Brighton, MA 02135	Allston/ Brighton
Boston Public Library - Central Branch (McKim Building)	700 Boylston Street, Back Bay, MA 02116	Back Bay/ Bay Village
Charlestown Branch Library	179 Main Street, Charlestown, MA 02129	Charlestown
BCYF Quincy Community Center	885 Washington Street, Chinatown, MA 02111	Chinatown-Leather District
Fields Corner Library	1520 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02122	Dorchester
Grove Hall Branch Library	41 Geneva Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02121	Dorchester
Uphams Corner Branch Library	500 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA 02125	Dorchester
Adams Street Branch Library	690 Adams Street, Dorchester, MA 02122	Dorchester
Codman Square Branch Library	690 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA 02124	Dorchester
Boston City Hall (3rd Floor and Congress Street)	1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201	Downtown
East Boston Branch Library	365 Bremen Street, East Boston, MA 02128	East Boston
Hyde Park Branch Library	35 Harvard Avenue, Hyde Park, MA 02136	Hyde Park
Jamaica Plain Branch Library	30 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130	Jamaica Plain
Mattapan Branch Library	1350 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02126	Mattapan
BCYF Roslindale	6 Cummins Highway, Roslindale, MA 02131	Roslindale
Roxbury Branch Library	149 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MA 02119	Roxbury
Parker Hill Branch Library	1497 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA 02120	Roxbury
South Boston Branch Library	646 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127	South Boston
West Roxbury Branch Library	1961 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132	West Roxbury

Keep in mind

Absentee Ballots

If you have already applied for an Absentee Ballot, you do not need to fill out an application for a mail-in ballot.

In-person voting

Some voters are concerned that mail-in voting will be their only option for voting in the 2023 Elections. The Boston Election Department would like to reassure voters that in-person voting will remain an option for all precincts.

EARLY VOTING

Early Voting for the Preliminary Municipal Election will take place Saturday, September 2nd through Friday, September 8th.

Common Questions

Questions

Eligibility

Learn more about the eligibility around voting by mail.

Can I vote by mail?

Yes, every registered voter is eligible to vote by mail.

What if I am not registered?

You need to be a registered voter to vote by mail. The deadline to register to vote in the Preliminary Municipal Election is Saturday, September 2, 2023. You can register online, by mail, or in person at Boston City Hall.

You have until 5 p.m. to register to vote in-person, and until 11:59 p.m. to register to vote online. If you register to vote by mail, it must be postmarked by Saturday, September 2, 2023.

Can I register to vote and apply for my ballot at the same time?

Yes. As long as your registration form is received or postmarked 10 days before the election, your application can be submitted with your registration form.

What if I'm not sure where I'm registered?

Before you fill out your mail-in ballot application, use the state's website to confirm that you're registered at your current address.

What if I'm still registered at an old address?

If the voter registration deadline hasn't passed yet, you should register to vote at your current address. If there isn't time to update your address, you should apply using your old address where you are registered to vote if:

you have moved within the same city or town where you are registered, OR
you have moved to a new city or town in Massachusetts within six months of the election.

When you apply by mailing a paper application, emailing your application to absentee@boston.gov (be sure to sign), or bringing your application to City Hall Room 241, you can request that your ballot be sent to your new address.

Applying

Learn more about how to apply to vote by mail.

How do I vote by mail?

If you are a registered Boston voter, submit a 2023 vote-by-mail application by mail, email, fax, to the Boston Election Department:

Election Department
1 City Hall Square, Room 241
Boston, MA 02201
Email: absenteevoter@boston.gov
Fax: 617-635-4483

How soon do I need to apply for my ballot?

You should apply as soon as possible. We need to receive your application at least five business days before Election Day. Remember that it can take up to a week for the mail to be delivered in one direction, so it's best to try to apply at least two to three weeks before the election.

What if I can't print the Vote-by-Mail Application?

Any written request is acceptable, as long as it is signed. You can write a letter to our office that says you want a ballot:

Election Department
1 City Hall Square, Room 241
Boston, MA 02201

Make sure to include your name, address, and where to mail your ballot.

Where do I send my application?

If you are a registered Boston voter, send your application to our office:

Election Department
1 City Hall Square, Room 241
Boston, MA 02201
Email: absenteevoter@boston.gov
Fax: 617-635-4483

Can I email my application?

Yes, but the application needs to be signed. You can either:

sign your application by hand and email an image of your application to our office, or
sign your name using a mouse, stylus, or finger and then send that saved application to our office.

Typed signatures are not acceptable.

Can I fax my application?

Yes. If you have access to a fax machine, you can fax your application to our office at 617-635-4483.

Can I sign my application digitally?

Yes, but your signature has to be similar to your hand-written signature. You can sign your name on a computer or phone using a mouse, finger, or stylus. Typed signatures are not acceptable.

How do I know if my application was received?

You can use the state's website to track your mail-in ballot. If your application is marked as "Pending," that means your application has been received and your ballot will be mailed out as soon as it is ready. If the website can't find a record for you, that may mean that your application hasn't been received yet. You should call us at 617-635-8683.

Voting

Learn more about the vote-by-mail process.

Where is my ballot?

You can use the state's website to track your mail-in ballot. If the ballot has already been mailed, you will be able see the date it was mailed. If the website can't find a record for you, that may mean that your application hasn't been received yet and you should call us at 617-635-8683.

If I vote by mail, can I change my mind and vote in person?

It depends. If you mailed your early ballot back and it was accepted by our office, then your ballot is considered to be cast and you can't vote again. If your ballot never reached our office — or if it was rejected for some reason — then you can vote in person.

What if I need assistance in voting?

If you need assistance voting because you have a physical disability or you have difficulty reading your ballot you may ask an other person to assist you in marking your ballot in your presence.

If you cannot sign your name on the ballot envelope, the person assisting you should sign your name in the space provided for the voter's signature. They should then provide their own information in the space provided for the assisting person. If you need an accommodation because of a physical disability, you may apply to the state's Elections Division.

Can someone else fill out my ballot for me if I am not home?

No. Only you can fill out your ballot and sign your ballot envelope, unless you are unable to do so because of physical disability or inability to read your ballot. All help must be provided in your presence. You can, however, have a ballot mailed to you wherever you are.

If I apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot, does that mean I can't vote in person?

No. You can vote in person as long as you haven't already voted by mail. If you choose not to return your mail-in ballot, you can vote in person on Election Day. You can also vote in person if you mail your ballot and it does not reach your election office by Election Day, or if your mail-in ballot is rejected for any reason.

Returning your ballot

Learn more about your options for returning your ballot.

Do I need to send ID with my ballot?

Maybe. First-time voters in Massachusetts are sometimes required by federal law to present ID showing their name and the address where they registered to vote. If you are required to show ID, we will send you a notice with your ballot. Make sure you send a copy of your ID on the outside of your ballot envelope, because the ballot envelope can't be opened until it is time to count the ballots.

How can I return my ballot?

You can return your ballot by mail, in person, or in one of the convenient drop boxes located throughout the City.

To return a ballot by mail, a postage-paid envelope is included with the ballot package. it must reach the Boston Election Department by the close of polls on election day in order to be counted. You may also return your ballot to City Hall during regular working hours: Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Our drop boxes will be monitored by surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week leading up until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

When do I need to return my ballot?

For the Preliminary Municipal Election if you're hand-delivering your Preliminary Municipal Election ballot to us or dropping it in a drop box, it needs to be returned by 8 p.m. on September 12, 2023.

All ballots must reach the Boston Election office by the close of polls on election Day in order to be counted.

Can I track my ballot?

Yes, you can track your ballot on the state's website. This page will show you:

if your application has been received
the date your ballot is mailed
the date your ballot is received at your local election office, and
whether your ballot is accepted or rejected.

Will my ballot be counted if it arrives after Election Day?

No, your ballot will not be counted if it arrives after the September 12, Preliminary Municipal Election date. If you think your ballot may not arrive in time to be counted, consider returning it by hand-delivery or voting in person.

How do I know my ballot was counted?

Your ballot will be counted in a public space, either at your polling place or at a central tabulation facility in Boston. You can use the state's website to confirm your ballot was accepted.

Why was my ballot rejected?

If your ballot was rejected, it is most likely because you did not sign the affidavit on your ballot envelope. The Boston Election Department will notify you if your ballot is rejected and the reason it was rejected.

If there is enough time left before the election, you will also be sent a new ballot. You will also have the option of voting in person until 8 p.m. on Election Day.