City of Boston Shares Final Voting Reminders in Preparation for the November 3 State Election

The Boston Election Department reminds residents that the State Election will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polling locations will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The City has recruited and trained more than 2,000 poll workers to serve across Boston’s 275 precincts.

Voting on Election Day

Voters should confirm their registration status through the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website and view polling locations on the City’s polling location map before heading to the polls.

This year’s ballot includes nine ballot questions across three double-sided ballot cards. Voters are encouraged to review the questions and make their choice in advance, and allow additional time to complete and cast their ballot. Translations of the ballot questions are available in 16 languages at boston.gov/ballotquestions.

To avoid tabulator jams, voters should carefully feed one card at a time into the tabulator, waiting for the screen to say “System Ready” before inserting the next card. After inserting the third and final card, voters should wait for “System Ready” before stepping away. Watch this short video for a step-by-step demonstration of how to insert your ballot cards.

With more ballot cards being processed this year, voting machines may occasionally need attention. If that happens, our poll workers will be there to help, and Election Department support teams will be available throughout the city to respond to any issues.

We appreciate voter’s patience and cooperation as our poll workers help everyone through the voting process.

All polling locations are wheelchair accessible and equipped with an AutoMark Voter Assist Terminal to help voters with disabilities mark their ballots independently. Multilingual poll workers and interpreters will also be available to assist voters. 

If an interpreter is not available on site, voters can ask a poll worker to connect them to the City’s Language Assistance Line, available to Boston residents at no cost.

Returning Mail-In Ballots

Voters who have not yet returned their mail-in or absentee ballots should use an official City of Boston ballot drop box or deliver their ballots directly to the Election Department at Boston City Hall, at 1 City Hall Square, Room 241. Ballots returned in person or through a drop box must reach the Election Department or a ballot box by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3.  Locations and hours for the City’s ballot drop boxes are available at boston.gov/ballotdropbox.

Mail-in ballots cannot be returned to polling locations on Election Day. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, November 3 and received by the Election Department by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6, to be counted.

Early Voting and Ballot Return Update

As of Monday, November 2, 15,343 Boston residents have voted early in person, and 47,309 mail-in and absentee ballots have been returned to the Election Department. Together, these total 62,652 ballots cast ahead of Election Day.

Election Night Results

Between 8 and 9 p.m. on Election Night, the Election Department will publish results from mail-in and in-person early voting ballots processed in advance at Boston City Hall. These are referred to as Central Tabulation results. 

The Election Department will then begin uploading combined Election Day and Central Tabulation results, beginning around 10 p.m. and continuing throughout the evening until all precincts are uploaded.

Voter Assistance and Resources

Residents can call 311 for Election Day questions or assistance. Voters should confirm their registration status through the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website and view polling locations on the City’s polling location map before heading to the polls.

For additional election information, visit boston.gov/elections.