Boston 2025 City Elections
It won’t be long until Boston voters head to the polls to cast ballots for the city’s municipal election. The general election will occur on Nov. 4, where residents will vote to elect a mayor, at-large city councilors, and a district city councilor. Here is everything you need to know going into this year’s election.
Important dates
Oct. 25 is the official voter registration deadline. This is the last day Bostonians can register to vote in the municipal election.
Oct. 25 – Oct. 31 Early voting is available. If voters are unable to vote on election day, they may do so during this period.
Oct. 28 is the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot. Voters who wish to vote by mail must submit the application before 5:00 pm on this day.
Nov. 4 is municipal election day. Polling centers will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm throughout the city for voters to cast their ballots.
Where to vote
If you vote in person on Election Day, you must go to your specific, assigned polling place. Massachusetts is divided into voting precincts, each with a designated polling place. You’ll get a notice in the mail with your polling location information after you register to vote. You have to vote at your assigned polling place if you are voting in person on Election Day, Nov. 4. You can find which location to cast your vote here.
Any registered Boston voter can vote at any early voting location. You don’t need an excuse or reason to vote early. Unlike traditional polling, you don’t have to vote at your assigned polling location. Early voting allows you to cast your ballot at any polling location that is most convenient for you.
The City of Boston has not yet released this year’s early voting locations, but the early voting map and locations can be found here when they are available.
Voter Registration Status
Bostonians will have until Oct. 25 to register to vote in this election. Voters can check their registration status and register to vote at the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office.
Are there voter ID requirements?
In most cases, you do not need to show identification to vote in Boston’s municipal election. There are circumstances where voters may be asked to present a form of identification, these include:
- 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
If you are voting for the first time in Massachusetts and don’t have identification with you, you can cast a provisional ballot. If you return with identification before the polls close, your vote will be counted.
Valid forms of identification must have your name and the address where you are registered to vote. Examples of acceptable identification are:
- A driver’s license
- A state ID card
- A recent utility bill
- A rent receipt or lease.
- A copy of a voter registration affidavit
- A letter from a school dormitory or housing office
- Any other printed identification that contains your name and address
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
Boston is divided into nine city council districts. Districts one, two, four, five and seven have two candidates on their ballots for voters to choose from, while the remaining districts have one candidate running unopposed.
You can see which city council district you’re registered to vote in using the City of Boston’s My Neighborhood Lookup Tool.
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.