Massachusetts
How to get a sample ballot for the November election in MA by mail or online
What you need to know about early voting
Election day is November 5, but some voters can cast their ballots as early as September.
Planning ahead for the Nov. election in Massachusetts? Sample ballots will be available online or by mail very soon.
Blank sample ballots are available for the upcoming statewide election on Nov. 5, when Massachusetts residents will be casting their votes for president, U.S. and state senator, U.S. and state representative and several other offices so voters can research and prepare ahead of their trip to the polls.
Five ballot measures will also be voted on in the upcoming election, with questions including the elimination of MCAS as a high school graduation requirement, unionization for transportation workers and minimum wage for tipped workers.
Here’s how you can see a copy of your blank sample ballot ahead of the election.
How to find your blank sample ballot online
Blank sample ballots will be available online in Massachusetts around early October, the Secretary of State’s office said.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will have sample ballots available on its website. Voters can use the Secretary of State’s election information page to enter their address and find a sample ballot.
In the meantime, the Secretary of State’s office has a list of the offices that will be on the ballot in the Nov. election on its website. Additionally, election encyclopedia Ballotpedia currently has a sample ballot lookup tool that lists the questions and offices that will be on the ballot.
How to request a sample ballot by mail in MA
Massachusetts voters who don’t have access to online ballots and want to instead receive a sample ballot by mail will have to request one from their local Town or City Clerk’s office.
The state does not send out sample ballots via mail unless it is requested by a voter.
The sample ballots will be available in clerk’s offices no later than Oct. 7, the Secretary of State’s office said.
What is a sample election ballot?
A sample ballot is a blank ballot that looks like the official one that will be used for an election.
Sample ballots are typically made available for voters ahead of an election so they know how to navigate the information when casting their vote. It should be clearly marked as a sample.