Cambridge voters now have the option to vote early by mail in all elections, with no excuse required.
In addition to no-excuse early voting by mail, Massachusetts has absentee voting for those who qualify. While early Vote by Mail ballots are more common, there are special circumstances where you need to apply for an absentee ballot instead. Please click here if you are a military or overseas voter, a voter who is incarcerated, or a voter who was admitted to the hospital within 1 week of of the election.
November 8, 2022 State Election
Step One: Apply for a ballot
Vote by Mail applications will be mailed in September to every voter who hasn’t already requested a mail-in ballot for the fall elections. These applications will be pre-addressed to the Election Commission office and postage pre-paid. The deadline to request a ballot for the November 8, 2022 Election is Tuesday, November 1st at 5 p.m. The Election Commission recommends applying by Tuesday, October 25th, allowing up to 7 days for ballot delivery in both directions.
NEW: Use the online portal to request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot
You can also request a ballot by filling out the vote by mail application or by sending a signed request to the Election Commission Office that includes:
- Your name;
- The address where you are registered to vote;
- The address where you want the ballot to be sent;
- Which election(s) you would like (you can apply for the September primary, the November general election, or both);
- If you are not registered in a party, you must include which party's ballot you would like to receive;
- YOUR SIGNATURE
Deliver your application to the Cambridge Election Commission by email, mail or fax:
Applications can be submitted by mail, email, or fax. If you’re emailing your application, you need to sign it in a way that can be compared to your hand-written signature. Electronic signatures, scanned applications, and photos of applications are acceptable. Typed signatures cannot be accepted.
Step Two: Vote when your ballot arrives
The Election Commission office will begin mailing ballots as soon as we receive them from the Secretary of State's office, approximately one month before the election. Due to the volume it may take some time for all ballots to be mailed.
After voting your ballot, place it in the inner envelope and sign the envelope. If you make a mistake on your ballot, please call the Election Commission office at 617-349-4361 or email elections@cambridgema.gov for further instructions.
Step Three: Return your ballot
You have four options for returning your ballot:
- Mail: the envelopes will be addressed and postage is provided!
- Ballot Drop Boxes: There are six official drop box locations in Cambridge, open daily from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
- City Hall - Near the back door of the building located at 795 Massachusetts Ave
- Morse School - Near the front entrance of the building location at 40 Granite St
- Cambridge Police Headquarters - Near the front of the building located at 125 6th St
- Maria L. Baldwin School - Right-side of the Oxford Street entrance of the building located at 85 Oxford Street
- O'Neill Library - Adjacent to the entrance stairs of the building located at 70 Rindge Ave
- Coffon Building - Right-side of the building located at 51 Inman St
- Election Commission Office: drop the ballot off in person to the Election Commission office at 51 Inman Street during regular office hours
- Early Voting Locations: Ballots may also be returned by dropping them off at designated early voting locations during early voting hours.
View Map of Drop Box and Early Voting Locations
All ballots being returned by mail must be postmarked by November 8, 2022 and received by the Election Commission Office no later than 5 p.m. EST on November 12, 2022.
All ballots being returned by drop box or in person must be returned by the close of polls, 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.