Voter Registration in Massachusetts
To vote in Massachusetts, one must register with the local election official in the city or town of your primary residence. You must meet these minimum requirements to register to vote:
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Be a resident of Massachusetts
- Be 18 years old
- Not have been convicted of corrupt practices in respect to elections
- Not be under guardianship with respect to voting
Registration Deadline:
The voter registration deadline, if you are not already a registered voter in Groton, is 10 days before the election or town meeting day. If a town meeting and a local election are called on the same warrant, the voter registration deadline is 10 days before the first event.
You can register or check your voter registration on-line at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/. You may also register by mail or in person at the Town Clerk’s Office, 173 Main Street.
There are several ways to register to vote:
- In person: Voter registration forms are available at the Town Clerk’s office. A downloadable Voter Registration form is available at the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s web site http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleidx.htm. The Voter Registration form may be printed, completed and returned to your local election official. Please return this form to the Groton Town Clerk.
- Registering Online (effective August, 2015): The process can be completed at www.registertovotema.com. In addition, in order to register to vote online, you must have a signature on file with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. If you currently have a Massachusetts driver’s license or state ID card, you may use the online voter registration application to register, update your address, or change your party affiliation. Voter registration forms submitted online must be submitted by midnight on the date of the voter registration deadline.
- By Mail: If you do not qualify to register to vote online, or if you would prefer to register by mail, you may download the voter registration form found at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howreg.htm . The form must be completed, signed, and delivered to your local election official. Voter registration forms submitted by mail must be postmarked no later than the voter registration deadline.
- Registry of Motor Vehicles: You will be automatically registered to vote when you conduct a transaction at the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Voter registration needs to be completed only once, as long as you maintain the same address. If you move (even within the same town), change your name or wish to change party affiliation, a new voter registration is required. It’s important to note that each election and town meeting has a voter registration deadline of 10 days before the event. (. If a town meeting and a local election are called on the same warrant, the voter registration deadline is 10 days before the first event.)
The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website is an excellent resource for voting information:
Elections Division: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleidx.htm
Registering to Vote: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howreg.htm
If you have any specific questions, please contact the Groton Town Clerk’s office at 978-448-1100 or email us at townclerk@grotonma.gov
