Mail-in voting information for the City of Boston
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If you are a registered voter in Boston, you can vote by mail in the 2020 Elections.
All Massachusetts registered voters have received a vote-by-mail application in their mailboxes for the State Primary and the State Election. The application is in a postcard format. To vote by mail in the State Election, voters must complete, sign and return the prepaid postcard application to the Boston Election Department by Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
If you never received the application, we have information below about how you can apply.
You do not need an excuse to vote by mail this year. The state's website has more information on mail-in voting:
How to apply
Through the state's website, you can apply to vote by mail online:
DOWNLOADIf you want to mail or fax your application, you can download one:
Elections Department
1 City Hall Square, Room 241
Boston, MA 02201
Email: absenteevoter@boston.gov
Fax: 617-635-4483
If you want to drop off your application to our office at City Hall, use the Election Department dropbox located on the third floor. City Hall is open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Applications to request a vote-by-mail ballot must be received by Wednesday, October 28, for the State Election on Tuesday, November 3.
Tracking your ballotMassachusetts voters can track their ballot request, whether requested by mail or online, through the state's website. We will start mailing out ballots by early October. We will continue to mail ballots as applications arrive, until the application deadline of October 28, 2020.
Complete your ballot
You can mail the ballot to the address on the envelope. Please submit your completed ballot as soon as possible. You can track your ballot through the state's website.
Make sure to call the Elections Department at 617-635-8683 before Election Day if you haven't seen movement in the tracker.
If you plan to return your ballot in person instead of mailing it, we have dedicated dropboxes across the City, including two at Boston City Hall. You have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to drop off your ballot. You can also drop off your ballot at any early voting location during the City's early voting period. You can view a list of dropbox locations and a map below.
If you bring a mail-in ballot to your polling location on Election Day, you will be provided with the opportunity to cast your vote in-person at that polling location. A poll worker will help you to ensure that your mail-in ballot is spoiled before casting the in-person vote.
Map of dropbox locations
List of ballot dropoff locations
List of dropoff locations| Location | Neighborhood | Date and time |
|---|---|---|
| Allston/ Brighton |
Saturday, October 17: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 18: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Allston/ Brighton |
Saturday, October 24: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 25: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Back Bay/ Bay Village |
Saturday, October 24: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 25: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Charlestown |
Saturday, October 24: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 25: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Chinatown-Leather District |
Saturday, October 17: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 18: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Dorchester |
Saturday, October 17: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 18: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Dorchester |
Saturday, October 24: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 25: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Dorchester |
Saturday, October 24: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 25: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Downtown |
Monday, October 19: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 20: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 21: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday, October 22: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday, October 23: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday, October 26: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 27: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 28: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday, October 29: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday, October 30: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
|
| East Boston |
Saturday, October 17: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 18: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Fenway |
Saturday, October 17: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 18: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Hyde Park |
Saturday, October 17: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 18: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Jamaica Plain |
Saturday, October 24: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 25: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Mattapan |
Saturday, October 24: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 25: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Roslindale |
Saturday, October 24: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 25: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Roxbury |
Saturday, October 17: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 18: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Roxbury |
Saturday, October 17: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 18: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| Roxbury |
Saturday, October 24: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 25: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| South Boston |
Saturday, October 17: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 18: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| South Boston |
Saturday, October 24: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 25: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
|
| West Roxbury |
Saturday, October 17: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sunday, October 18: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
| Location | Neighborhood | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Allston/ Brighton |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| Allston/ Brighton |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| Back Bay/ Bay Village |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| Charlestown |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| Dorchester |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| Dorchester |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| Downtown |
Available seven days a week through 8 p.m. on November 3. Two dropboxes available, one at the Congress Street entrance and one at the City Hall Plaza entrance. The dropbox at the City Hall Plaza entrance is currently available. |
|
| East Boston |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| Hyde Park |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| Jamaica Plain |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| Mattapan |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| Roslindale |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| Roxbury |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| Roxbury |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| South Boston |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
|
| West Roxbury |
The dropbox will be available seven days a week up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. |
Keep in mind
If you have already applied for an Absentee Ballot, you do not need to fill out an application for a mail-in ballot.
In-person votingSome voters are concerned that mail-in voting will be their only option for voting in the 2020 State Primaries and the General Election. The Boston Election Department would like to reassure voters that in-person voting will remain an option for all 255 precincts.
Covid-19 Precautions for In-Person VotingWe are in the process of recruiting about 1800 poll workers to serve on Election Day. All poll workers are required to attend a 2.5-hour training on election laws and procedures. This year's poll worker training will include COVID-19 Protocols on social distancing, sanitizing procedures, and the proper use of personal protective equipment .
For convenience and to reduce crowding, early voting will be available in the City of Boston:
- General Election: Saturday, October 17, through Friday, October 30