Massachusetts Voters: Why You Need to Check Your Mailbox This Week

Residents of Massachusetts are now receiving mail-in ballot applications for the statewide primary election scheduled for September 1, 2026, and the general election on November 3, 2026.

The application explains what you need to know if you opt to mail it in rather than vote early in person or wait until election day to cast your vote.

Is there ever a time when we are not in election mode? Perhaps it's the tone of the political discourse in our country these days, but to more and more people, it almost always feels like an election cycle.

Massachusetts Issues Vote-by-Mail Applications For Fall Elections

Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin said, "Every Massachusetts voter who has not already applied to vote by mail this year will soon be receiving an official 2026 Vote by Mail application."

Galvin said voters should "keep their eye on their mailboxes in the coming days" as the applications were mailed the week of July 9, 2026.

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Each registered voter in Massachusetts "will receive a pre-addressed, postage-paid application, which may be used to apply for mail-in ballots for the upcoming fall elections."

Massachusetts Issues Vote-by-Mail Applications For Fall Elections

Key Deadlines for the 2026 Massachusetts Primaries

Your completed primary election ballot must arrive at your local elections office by 5 p.m. on August 25. Early voting for the state primaries will be August 22-28, while early voting for the November 3 state election will be October 17-30.

Party Rules for Unenrolled and Independent Voters

Unenrolled voters must indicate which party's ballot they wish to receive when returning their application for the primaries, just as they must select a party's ballot when voting in person in the primaries on September 1.

How to Request a Replacement Application Online

Should the dog eat your application, or if you don't receive one in the mail, you can request one from the Secretary of State's website. The site addresses most questions you might have about the upcoming elections, including how to register to vote, how to locate your polling place, and how to track your mail-in ballot.