State Primary Election on September 1

There is a Massachusetts primary election on Tuesday, September 1 to select final candidates for the November 3 state election. The offices on the ballot are: U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Governor’s Councillor, State Senator, State, Representative, District Attorney, and Register of Probate.

You can look up a sample ballot for your location to see the candidates you can vote for and to check your polling place.

Every registered voter can vote in a primary. Unenrolled voters can vote in the party primary of their choice; registered Democrats or Republicans are given their party’s ballot.

Voter registration

The deadline to register or change your party affiliation for this election is August 22. You may register to vote online, through the mail, or in person at your local election office. You can check your registration status online.

How to vote

Vote by mail

Apply for a mail-in ballot online. You may also fill out and return the application that was mailed to all registered voters, or download an application. The Secretary of the Commonwealth recommends applying for your ballot 2–3 weeks prior to the election to allow enough time to receive and return it, but August 25 is the deadline.

Your ballot must be received at your local election office via return mail, early voting location, or ballot dropbox before polls close at 8 p.m. on September 1. Ballots cannot be dropped off at a polling place on Election Day, but you may still be able to vote in person there if needed (see below).

Once you apply for your ballot, you may track its status online.

Vote early in person

The period for early voting in-person at local election offices is August 22 to 28. Consult your local office for hours and locations.

Vote in person on election day

Vote in person on Tuesday, September 1 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Look up your polling location here. If you requested a mail-in ballot, you may still vote in person at the polls if: (a) you did not return it, or (b) you mailed your ballot but your local election office did not receive it, or (c) your local election office rejected it.

Local Election Offices

Your local election office (city or town clerk) can assist with voter registration and all forms of voting. They have up-to-date information about early voting in-person, ballot dropboxes, and polling locations.

Below are the local offices for Boston, Watertown, Belmont and Cambridge, the cities and towns in Senator Brownsberger’s district. For other locales, look up your voting information to find your local clerk’s office (and more).

Belmont Town Clerk

455 Concord Avenue, Ground Floor
Belmont, MA 02478 (map)
Hours: Monday: 8 am – 7 pm; Tuesday through Thursday: 8 am – 4 pm; Friday: 8 am – 12 pm.
Phone: 617-993-2603
Email: townclerk@belmont-ma.gov
Website: Belmont Elections & Voting Information

Boston Election Department

1 City Hall Square, Room 241
Boston, MA 02201 (map)
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am – 5 pm
Phone: 617-635-8683
Website & email form: Boston Election Department

Cambridge Election Commission

689 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139 (map)
Hours: Monday: 8:30 am – 8 pm; Tuesday through Thursday: 8:30 am – 5 pm; Friday: 8:30 am – 12 pm
Phone: 617-349-4361
Email: elections2@cambridgema.gov
Website: Cambridge Election Commission

Watertown City Clerk

149 Main St
Watertown, MA 02472-4410 (map)
Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday:  8:30 am – 5 pm; Tuesday: 8:30 am – 7 pm; Friday: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Phone: 617-715-8686
Email: cityclerk@watertown-ma.gov
Website: Watertown Election & Voter Information

For more information

Visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s elections website for comprehensive information, including situations not covered above.