City of Boston Issues Reminder Ahead of State Primary

The Boston Election Department is reminding voters that the State Primaries will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. The State Primaries determine the candidates who will represent each political party in the State Election on November 5. Voters can update their voting status including party affiliation, new address, or name change until August 24 here. Early voting begins Saturday, August 24, running through August 30 at sites around the City.

Voter Registration

The voter registration deadline for the State Primary is Saturday, August 24, 2024. Registration forms must be postmarked by August 24, 2024. Voters can register in person at the Boston Election Department, located in City Hall Room 241, by 5 p.m. or register online here by 11:59 p.m.

In-Person Early Voting

In-person early voting begins Saturday, August 24 and runs through Friday, August 30. City Hall is Boston's primary early voting site, with voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Voters are encouraged to enter City Hall through the Hanover Street entrance to access the early voting location on the second floor, Haymarket Room. 

Neighborhood early voting locations will be available throughout the city on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and from noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27 and Thursday, August 29. For a full list of early voting locations click here.

All early voting sites are equipped with electronic poll books for voter check in. Early voting locations will be well staffed with poll workers and interpreters. All sites are fully accessible to voters with disabilities.

Vote-By-Mail

Voters may also choose to vote early by mail. Applications to request a vote-by-mail ballot must be received by Monday, August 26 at 5 p.m. 

Vote-by-mail ballots may be returned using one of 23 drop boxes located throughout the City; in person at the Boston Election Department located at City Hall Room 241; at an early voting location during the prescribed hours for voting; or via U.S. Mail. 

Voters are asked to return all signed ballot packages, whether using a drop box or the U.S. Mail, in the white postage paid return envelope included with their vote-by-mail ballot. Ballots must reach the Boston Election Department or a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3 to be counted. Voters cannot deliver their voted ballots to a polling location on Election Day.

Voters can track the status of their vote-by-mail ballots here. If there is no movement indicated in the “Track My Ballot” system, voters should plan to vote in-person on Election Day.

Accessible Voting

The Accessible Electronic Voting System allows voters who are unable to independently read, write, hold, or physically manipulate or mark ballots to submit their ballot via a secure electronic delivery system. Voters who qualify for an Accessible Electronic Ballot may apply here. The deadline to apply for an accessible ballot is Monday, August 26, 2024, at 5 p.m.

Please note: To get access to the electronic ballot, you will need to provide your email address.

Voting On Election Day 

Polling locations open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. A list of polling locations can be found here. As a reminder, voters should check their registration status via the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website. Printed ballots will be available in English and Spanish. Chinese and Vietnamese ballots will be available where required. Language interpreters will also be available upon request. All voting locations are wheelchair accessible and are equipped with AutoMark Voter Assist Terminal for voters with visual or hearing impairments.

Polling Location Changes and Unofficial Results

After polls close at 8 p.m., the Election Department will receive and upload unofficial results of ballots counted at polling places as they are returned from each precinct.

Media Guidelines

Where To Stand

Members of the press must remain behind the guardrail. While many polling places are not equipped with a physical guardrail, the area within the “guardrail” encompasses the check-in table, the voting booths, and the ballot box. Only poll workers and voters should be within this area.

Interacting With Voters and Poll Workers

Members of the press, like all other observers in the polling place, may not interact with voters while they are in the polling place. Further, observers who have questions about where they should stand and what they are allowed to do while observing should ask to speak to the warden. The warden may provide members of the press with information regarding their rights as observers.

Photography

Photography of the voting process in the polling place is permitted, though marked ballots may not be photographed. Photographers are allowed inside the polling place to photograph the area from outside the guardrail. The warden may instruct the photographer not to take photos of any marked ballots.

Video and Audio Recording

As with photography of the polling place, video recording of the polling place is allowed. Audio recording of the polling place is not permitted under state law. Anyone recording in the polling place must have the ability to record without capturing audio and should be instructed to do so by the warden. Those who are using electronic equipment may not use the electricity in the polling place to power their equipment.

Exit Polling

Exit polling and interviews of voters are permitted outside the polling place, even within 150 feet of the entrance to the polling place, but only those voters who are leaving the polling place should be stopped. Voter access to the polling place should not be impeded in any way.