Voter Registration

Registering To Vote

Up-to-date information on your current voter registration status. Verify that you are an "Active Voter" by following the link.

You may submit an application to register or pre-register to vote in Massachusetts if:

You are a citizen of the United States; and
You are 16 years old; and
You are not currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction.

If you meet the requirements, you may apply online, by mail, or in person.

The deadline to register to vote in any election or regular town meeting is twenty (20) days prior to the date of the election or meeting. The deadline to register to vote in a special town meeting is ten days prior to the special town meeting.

If you are a new citizen who was naturalized after the last day to register to vote, you may register to vote in person at your local election office until 4 pm on the day before the election. You should bring documentation to show that your naturalization ceremony occurred after the voter registration deadline.

Registering Online

In order to register to vote online, you must have a signature on file with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. If you currently have a Massachusetts driver's license or state ID card, you may use the online voter registration application to register, update your address, or change your party affiliation. Voter registration forms submitted online must be submitted by midnight on the date of the voter registration deadline.

Registering by Mail

If you do not qualify to register to vote online, or if you would prefer to register by mail, you may download the mail-in voter registration form. The form must be completed, signed, and delivered to Town Clerk, 1009 Main Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876. Voter registration forms submitted by mail must be postmarked no later than the voter registration deadline.

Registering in-Person

If you would like to register in person, you may do so at the Tewksbury Town Clerk's Office, 1009 Main Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876, or any local election office, as well as the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office. Voter registration is also available as part of every transaction at the Registry of Motor Vehicles and at certain public assistance agencies. Voter registration forms completed in-person are valid as of the day that they are signed.

Automatic Voter Registration

If you are a U.S. citizen applying for or renewing a driver's license or state ID at the RMV, or applying for health insurance through MassHealth or the Commonwealth Health Connector, you will be automatically registered to vote, unless you opt-out of registering.

If you opt-out of registering to vote, or if your citizenship has not been confirmed by the RMV, MassHealth, or the Health Connector, you will not be registered to vote. If you do not opt-out and your citizenship is confirmed, your name, address, and date of birth will be sent to your local election official to be added to the voter list and you will receive mailed confirmation of your registration within 2 to 3 weeks. Learn more about automatic voter registration.

Changing Your Address

You must update your voter registration every time you move. If you have moved, you may update your registration by filling out a new voter registration form. If you move after the deadline to register to vote in a state election or primary, you should wait to update your registration until after the date of the election or primary and return to vote at your previous polling place in Massachusetts. State law allows you to vote from a previous address in a state election for up to six months after you have moved, as long as you have not registered elsewhere.

Political Parties

If you wish to change your party enrollment, you may do so by filling out a new voter registration form. Members of political parties may vote only in their own party's primary elections. Unenrolled voters (commonly referred to as "Independents" and members of political designations or minor parties may vote in the party primary of their choice. Choosing to vote in a particular party's primary does NOT enroll you as a member of that party.

View a full list of political parties and designations.

Identification Requirements

Certain voters must submit a copy of their identification with their voter registration or present it at their polling place on Election Day. For more information on identification requirements, please see the Election Division's page on Identification Requirements.

Pre-Registering to Vote

Though you must be 18 years old in order to vote, you may pre-register to vote once you are 16 years old. If you are 16 or 17 years old, you may submit a voter registration form to your local election official, who will then place your name on the list of pre-registrants. You will receive a pre-registration notice by mail, confirming receipt of your application. Pre-registration may be done online, by mail, or in person at any voter registration location (see above).

Once you become old enough to vote, your local election will mail you an acknowledgment notice, which is confirmation that your name has been moved from the list of pre-registrants to the list of registered voters. Your acknowledgment notice will include your party affiliation and the location of your polling place.

It is important to keep your local election official informed of any changes to your information. You must submit a new voter registration form if you wish to change your name, address, mailing address, or political affiliation.