Voters in Boston will head to the polls in just a few weeks to narrow down the field of candidates for mayor and city council.
The city’s preliminary municipal elections will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 9. In Boston, preliminary elections are non-partisan. All candidates are on every voter’s ballot, and the two candidates receiving the most votes advance to the general election on Nov. 4.
Prepare to cast your ballot with The Scope’s voting guide:
Important dates
Saturday, August 30 at 5 p.m. – deadline to register to vote for the Boston Preliminary Municipal Election
Saturday, August 30 – early voting begins
Monday, September 1- no early voting (Labor Day)
Tuesday, September 2 at 5:00 p.m. – deadline to request vote by mail ballot
Friday, September 5 – last day of early voting
Tuesday, September 9 – Preliminary Election Day, voting open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where to vote
During early voting, Boston voters can cast their ballot at any early voting location. You can see those early voting locations here.
On Election Day, you’ll need to vote at your assigned polling place. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website will help you find that location.
Check your voter registration
Voters have until Saturday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. to register to vote in this preliminary election. You can check your registration status with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office.
Are there voter ID requirements?
Voters might be asked to show identification when voting for a few specific reasons, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth:
- You are voting for the first time in Massachusetts
- You’re on the inactive voter list
- You’re casting a provisional or challenged ballot
- The poll worker has a practical and legal reason to ask for identification
The secretary’s office notes that your identification only needs to show your name and address. Some examples of acceptable identification include a driver’s license, state ID card, a recent utility bill, or a lease.
You can still cast a ballot if you don’t have an appropriate form of identification on you. Here’s the guidance from the Secretary of the Commonwealth:
If you need to show identification because you’re voting for the first time and you don’t have identification with you, you can cast a provisional ballot. If you return with identification before the polls close, your ballot will be counted.
If you need to show identification for any other reason and you’re not able to do so, you can cast a challenged ballot. Your name and address, the challenger’s name and address, and the reason for the challenge will be written on your ballot. Your ballot will be cast as normal and only examined if there is a recount, court order, or audit.
In June, an employee in the Boston election department told The Scope, “There are no new ID requirements for voting. Voters may need to provide ID if they are voting for the first time in Massachusetts or they are listed as ‘inactive’ (they can update to “active” by completing the annual census online or by mail).”
Find your city council district
You can use this tool from the City of Boston find out who your city councilor is.
Who is on the ballot
Voters in Boston will elect a mayor and city council this year. Below, The Scope has listed the candidates for each office and their online campaign presence, if available.
The Scope’s election coverage is supported by a grant from Press Forward, a nationwide movement to strengthen local communities by reinvigorating local news.
