Here Is When Massachusetts In-Person Early Voting Begins

Am I the only one who thinks we are in a perpetual state of campaigning on the national level?

Maybe it is the advent of cable network news, but it often seems we are always in the grip of a presidential campaign. It is a never-ending cycle.

The last presidential election in 2020 occurred when the nation was in the throes of the worst pandemic in 100 years. COVID-19 had an impact, good or bad, on many aspects of life as we know it or knew it before the virus set the world on its ear.

Get our free mobile app

Since the pandemic, almost all states have permitted in-person early voting. Some adopted mail-in voting policies.

Advocates of early voting believe it will encourage more people to participate in the electoral process by making voting more convenient.

According to the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), 43 states, including Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, allow early voting seven or more days before an election. Early voting occurs seven or fewer days before an election in four states.

Three states do not offer early voting or require an excuse for voting early.

Secretary of State William Galvin says, "In Massachusetts, you can vote early in all statewide elections. You do not need an excuse to cast an early ballot."

Galvin's website says, "In-person voting is available for regular state elections, regular state primaries, presidential primaries, special elections held on the same day as a statewide election, and special elections for U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives."

In-person early voting takes place during a designated early voting period, set by state law. For statewide elections, early voting periods include guaranteed weekend voting hours for the entire community.

The in-person early voting period designated for the 2024 Massachusetts primary elections is August 24 through August 30. In-person early voting for the November 5 general election, including the presidential election is allowed between October 19 and November 1.

For more specific information about in-person early voting in your local community, contact your local election officials.