Automatic voter registration goes into effect Jan. 1 in Massachusetts
Automatic voter registration goes into effect Jan. 1 in Massachusetts
Massachusetts residents who renew their driver’s license or apply for MassHealth will be automatically registered to vote, beginning Jan. 1.
Automatic voter registration was signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker in August 2018 and is now going into effect.
Under the new law, any eligible citizen who applies for or renews their driver’s license or state identification cards at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, applies for MassHealth, or signs up for health insurance through the Commonwealth Health Connector will be automatically registered to vote. All three of these agencies already require proof of citizenship.
Citizens will be able to opt out of registering to vote. They will not have to fill out a separate form to opt in.
Voter registration will also continue to be available online.
The deadline to register to vote in the March 3 presidential primary is Feb. 12.
To confirm whether you are registered to vote, visit www.sec.state.ma.us/ele.