Massachusetts Voters Face Tight Deadlines and Precinct Rules for 2026 Midterms

Polling stations across Massachusetts open at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 8 p.m. for the 2026 midterm elections. Voters will select candidates for governor and the U.S. Senate. A record-tying nine additional races are also on the ballot.

Voters are assigned to a specific precinct based on their home address. The state sends a notice by mail upon registration that lists the designated polling place. Residents who are unsure of their location can look up their address on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website to find their assigned site.

Massachusetts does not permit voting in any location within a county. Voters must cast their ballots at the specific polling place assigned to their address. This rule prevents citizens from choosing a convenient site elsewhere in the same county.

For those who opted to vote by mail, the application deadline was 5 p.m. on the fifth business day prior to the election. In the days leading up to Election Day, local election offices and early voting locations accepted mail-in ballots during standard voting hours. Ballots can still be dropped off on Election Day itself.

To be counted, a mail-in ballot must reach the local election office or a drop box by the time polls close. Ballots postmarked on Election Day will also count if they arrive within three days after polls close. However, voters cannot drop off mail-in ballots at polling places on Election Day. They must use a designated drop box instead. A full list of drop box locations is available on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website.

The deadline to register to vote was Saturday, Oct. 24. Massachusetts currently does not allow registration on Election Day. This rule may change if voters approve Question 4. If the measure passes, eligible citizens can register or update their registration address at their polling place on Election Day.