Who May Register To Vote

Only a Person who is:

• a US citizen
• a resident of the united states
• 18 years old on or before election day

How You Can Register To Vote

By Mail: Mail-registration forms are widely available. To obtain a mail-in registration form call 617-727-2828 or 1-800-462-VOTE and a form will be sent to you. Mail the completed form to your local city or town hall. You should receive a confirmation notice in 2 to 3 weeks. If you do not please contact your local election office to verify your voting status.

In Person: Go to any registration location and complete an affidavit of registration which must be answered truthfully under the penalty of perjury. The questions on the affidavit will include your name, residence and date of birth.

At the Registry of Motor Vehicles: Keep your motor voter receipt until you receive confirmation from your local election official. If you do not receive and confirmation, please contact your local election office to verify your voting status

Registration Deadlines

• 20 days before all primaries and elections
• 10 days before special town meetings

Absentee Ballots

You may vote by absentee ballot if you:

• will be absent from your city or town on election day
• Have a physical disability that prevents your voting at the polling place
• cannot vote at the polls sue to religious beliefs

How to apply for an absentee ballot:

There are applications forms available at the local election office you will need to include:

• name
• address as registered
• in a primary, the party ballot you want
• signature

How The Electoral Voting System Works

Here's how it works: The candidate who receives the most votes in your state wins all of that state's electoral votes. How many electoral votes does your state have? Just add the number of senators to the number of representatives. Larger states like California (54) and Florida (25) have more electoral votes and thus receive added attention from candidates.

In order to win the election, a candidate must receive 270 electoral votes out of a possible 538. The number 270 is simply the lowest majority possible -- but it's the number to watch on election night, as the votes are being tallied.