To vote in MA 2024, early voting begins Saturday, October 19th

WAs Election Day approaches on November 5, voters in Massachusetts can begin early voting to vote in person on Saturday, joining the hundreds of thousands who have already begun submitting their ballots by mail.

Early voting has been underway in several states for several weeks.

Massachusetts voters have returned 279,821 mail-in ballots as of Thursday, adding to the 7,036,530 early ballots cast nationwide for the 2024 general election, according to the Associated Press. In 2020, nearly two-thirds of voters chose early voting, a significant increase due to the pandemic and part of a broader trend toward voting before Election Day.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State William L. Galvin's office said it had mailed more than 1.3 million ballots to the state's voters.

In addition to electing a president and voting in key races for the U.S. House and Senate, voters in Massachusetts will face five ballot questions, the largest number of ballot questions since 2000, when voters were asked eight.

Here's what you need to know to vote early in the state:

Early voting in Massachusetts begins Saturday, October 19th and continues through Friday, November 1st.

Voters can choose whether to vote by mail or in person.

Anyone who is registered to vote in Massachusetts and has not yet cast a mail-in ballot can show up and vote at an early voting location in their city.

Another way to vote before Election Day is to vote by mail. You can request a mail-in ballot online, and the state also sends mail-in ballot applications to all registered voters 45 days before an election.

To avoid potential mail delays, the state recommends submitting your mail-in ballot at least two to three weeks before Election Day.

Early voting dates and locations vary by city and municipality. A full list of these details can be found on the Secretary of State's website.

If you are not yet registered to vote in Massachusetts, you still have time to do so before the state's deadline. The last day to register to vote is Saturday, October 26th. You can register online at the Massachusetts Secretary of State's website.

Voters can also update their address or name and change their political party designation online.

If you are voting for the first time in this state or are listed as an inactive voter, you will be required to present identification when checking in at your polling place. An ID must contain the voter's name and the address where they are registered to vote.

Here are some acceptable forms of identification, according to the state's website.

• A driving license
• A state ID card
• A current electricity bill
• A rental receipt or rental agreement
• A copy of a voter registration affidavit
• A letter from a dorm or housing office
• Any other printed ID that contains your name and address

Discover the full results of the Suffolk/Globe poll on voting issues, the presidential election and more

How voting became so widespread and so political before Election Day

Want to follow the election results like a pro? Here you can find out what you should pay attention to in the most important states.

Alyssa Vega can be reached at [email protected].