Get Involved In Local Politics!

 **Important Deadlines:**

Deadline to Register: October 24th, 2025

Final Election: November 4th, 2025 for Cities in MA

Why Should I Care About Local Politics?

  • While political engagement is more indirect at the federal level, what you do at the local level (city and state) can have very direct effects

  • At the local level, you are more able to talk to officials and have a hand in the kind of change you want to make

  • Local politics most directly affects how you live your life

Local Politics Covers Issues Around:

  • Housing

  • Education

  • Child Care Access

  • Community Events

  • Street Layouts

  • Public Transportation

  • Community Services

  • Public Art

Ways of Engaging in Local Politics

  • Voting

  • Going to City Council Meetings

  • Contacting City Officials

  • Working with Community Organizations

Voting

Why Should I Vote in Local Elections?

  • If you want to make your voice heard about your community, who you help elect into local offices matters!

Am I Eligible to Vote?

To be eligible to vote in Massachusetts, you must be:

  • Over 18

  • A resident of Massachusetts

  • Not currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction

  • A citizen of the United States

How do I Vote?

Step 1: Check Your Voter Registration

  • You can use this website to check if you are registered to vote: Voter Registration Website

  • If you have moved addresses or changed your name since the last election, you will need to update your information

    Step 2: Register

  • Registering to vote only takes minutes, and it can make a world of difference for you and your community!

  • You register online, by mail, or in person

  • To register, you will need: Drivers License or Social Security Number

  • Use this link to register online: Online Voter Registration in MA

  • By Mail: Fill out this form, and mail it to your local election office

  • In Person: you can register at your local election office, The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division, and The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s regional offices

    Step 3: Research Your Candidates

  • It’s important to know who you want to vote for, and that means researching your candidates

  • You can learn more about candidates by

    • Attending Voter Forums

    • Searching online: look on your local city website

  • Important factors to think about when considering a candidate:

    • What are they promising to do?

    • What experience do they have?

    • Do their ideals align with your own? Is that a good or a bad thing?

    • How do you think your community will be affected by them being elected?

  • You can write out your chosen candidates, and bring that list with you when you go vote

    Step 4: Figure Out How You Are Going to Vote

  • You can vote in person and by mail

  • By Mail: request a Vote By Mail Application, fill out and send the mail-in ballot before the mail-in deadline

  • In Person: Go to your designated polling location on Election Day

    Step 5: If Voting In Person, Plan Your Election Day Plan

  • Figure out where you are supposed to vote: use this website to check your voter registration status and where you are supposed to vote

  • Figure out how you are going to get to your polling election

  • Polling locations in Massachusetts are generally open 7:00am-8:00pm

    Step 6: At the Polling Location

  • Bring: Your candidate list, your Drivers License or Social Security Number

  • When you walk in, you should be directed to a check-in desk

  • You will be asked your name and address

  • After checking in, you should be given a ballot. The polling location should have ballots in multiple languages, so request the language that works best for you.

  • You will be directed to a voting booth, where you can fill out your ballot

  • FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE BALLOT CAREFULLY

  • When you have finished filling out your ballot, you will be expected to hand that ballot to a polling official

  • You’ve done it!

Non-Voting Civic Engagement

  • If you cannot/will not vote, there are still ways of engaging with local politics!

Going to Official Meetings

  • City Council Meetings: You can talk to city officials at your local City Council Meetings. Check your local city website for more information about meeting times and meeting procedures.

  • School Committee Meetings: You can talk to the people in charge of your children's education at School Committee Meetings. Check your local city website for more information about meeting times and meeting procedures.

Contacting City Officials

  • If you check your local city websites, you can find the contact information for local city officials. You can often call or email these officials, and they will respond and talk to you about your concerns.

Working with Community Organizations

  • MANY community organizations work to make a difference in your community!

  • These include: education organizations, labor organizations, health organizations, food banks, homeless shelters, and SO many more

  • If you do not want to engage with the government, you can work with these local organizations to make a difference.

  • You can find these organizations on your local city website or by searching other places online, as well as asking other people in your community about organizations they know about.

  • Working with these organizations can be as simple as calling them or showing up to one of their events.