Massachusetts Question 4 — Election Day voter registration

What it does

Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 6, 2026? This proposed law would permit eligible individuals to register to vote or update their voter registration address on Election Day. An individual who is eligible to vote could register to vote on Election Day by going to the polling place in the precinct where they live during voting hours and presenting proof of residency and signing a written oath. Proof of residency could be a valid photo identification, or documentation showing the individual’s name and the address where the individual resides, such as a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, residential lease, wireless telephone statement, paycheck, current student fee statement or other document from a post-secondary school, or another government document or correspondence. The written oath would require the individual to certify that they are a citizen of the United States, are at least 18 years old, are not legally prohibited from voting, and have not and will not vote in the same election at another location. The oath would require the individual to acknowledge that providing false information is a felony punishable by not more than 5 years imprisonment or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. If an individual did not present proof of residency, they would be allowed to cast a provisional ballot, which would be counted only if the individual returned to provide the required information before the close of polls for a municipal election; within two days after a state primary; or within six days after a state election. Individuals who register to vote on Election Day would be registered to vote in future elections as well as in the election taking place that day. Individuals who are already registered to vote would not be able to change their political party affiliation on Election Day. The proposed law would take effect on January 1, 2028.

A YES vote means

A YES VOTE would permit eligible citizens to register to vote or to update their voter registration address at their polling place on Election Day.

A NO vote means

A NO VOTE would make no change to the laws governing voter registration.

Needed to pass

A simple majority

Put on the ballot by

citizen initiative

Official text: source

Also on Massachusetts ballots

• Question 1 — Public records law applied to the Legislature and Governor
• Question 2 — Collective bargaining for Committee for Public Counsel Services employees
• Question 3 — All-party (top-two) primary elections
• Question 5 — State revenue growth limit and taxpayer rebates
• Question 6 — Nature for All Fund from sporting-goods sales taxes
• Question 7 — Single-family homes on 5,000 sq ft lots
• Question 8 — Repeal of retail sale of adult-use marijuana
• Question 9 — Firearms law (Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024)

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