2026 State Election: Information & Reminders from the Town of Amherst

AMHERST, MA – The State Election is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Voters must be registered to vote in Amherst and have the options to vote-by-mail, vote early in-person, vote absentee, or vote in-person on Election Day. See below for details. If you have questions, please visit amherstma.gov/vote, email townclerk@amherstma.gov, or call 413-259-3035. 

The State ballot consists of 2 pages, with 3 printed sides in total, and includes 9 ballot questions. To reduce lines and time at the polls, voters are strongly encouraged to review the State’s Information for Voters Booklet, also known as the Red Book. This resource contains information about all 9 questions and describes the effect of a yes or no vote for each question.  

Voting by mail remains a safe and secure option for the upcoming election. Ballots have officially been mailed on October 6 to all Amherst voters with an application on file. It is recommended that voters mail their ballots back as soon as possible, and the latest recommended date to mail back is Tuesday, October 27.

Important Deadlines

• Deadline to register to vote: October 24
• Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot: October 27 at 5:00 p.m.
• Deadline to vote in-person absentee at Town Clerk’s office: November 2 at 12:00 p.m.
• Deadline to return mail-in ballot to the Town Hall drop box: November 3 at 8:00 p.m.
• Deadline to return mail-in ballot by mail: Must be postmarked on November 3 and received by November 6 by the Town Clerk’s Office.

Voter Registration

• Check your voter status.
• Saturday, October 24 is the last day to register to vote or make changes to your voter registration for the State Election.
• Register Online: If you have a Massachusetts driver’s license or identification card, you may register to vote online at VoteinMA.com.
  • You can also use this website to pre-register (if you are 16-17 years old), update your address or name, or change your political party designation.
  • Online voter registration forms submitted online must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, October 24.
• Register by Mail: You can register to vote with a Mail-In Voter Registration Form.
  • Your voter registration form must be postmarked by the October 24 deadline.
• Register In-Person: You can register to vote in-person at the Town Clerk’s office anytime during normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
  • The Town Clerk’s office will also be open on the last day to register: Saturday, October 24, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Voter Status

• You may be listed as an “inactive voter” if you did not return your 2026 Annual Town Census nor voted in the past year. Inactive voters are required to show identification when voting in-person.
• Check your voter status online.

Vote-By-Mail

Voters can choose to vote-by-mail with no excuse required. Voters must apply annually to receive mail-in ballots. Ballots have officially been mailed on October 6 to all Amherst voters with an application on file.  

Submitting Applications

• Applications can be submitted online, by mail, email/fax, or in-person.
• Apply Online: Mail-in Ballot Application
• Apply By Mail: All registered voters should have received an application in the mail. Completed applications must be received by the Town Clerk’s office by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27.
• Apply By Email/Fax: Email the completed application to vote@amherstma.gov or fax to 413-259-2499. 
• Apply In-Person: Stop by the Town Clerk’s office to request a vote-by-mail application during normal business hours.

Completing Your Ballot

• Along with your ballot, you’ll receive instructions, a manilla Early Ballot Envelope which requires your signature, and a white pre-addressed postage paid return label.
• Once you mark your ballot (both pages), this gets sealed inside the Early Ballot Envelope. You must sign this envelope as directed. Please do not remove the pre-printed barcode. 
• Then place this Early Ballot Envelope in the white return envelope, seal it, and return it.
• Ballot envelopes without a signature will be rejected, and the voter will automatically be sent a replacement. 

Returning Your Ballot

• By Mail: Drop the pre-addressed postage paid white envelope in a home mailbox, a blue USPS collection box, or at a USPS Post Office. It is recommended that voters mail back their ballots by Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
• In-Person: Bring the completed ballot in the signed and sealed Early Ballot Envelope to the Town Clerk’s office during normal business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
• Drop Box: Put the completed ballot in the signed and sealed Early Ballot Envelope into the drop box located outside the Main Street entrance of Town Hall.
• Ballots cannot be returned at a polling location on Election Day. 
• Track the status of your mail-in ballot at VoteinMA.com.
• All voters whose ballot was rejected will be notified and sent a second one.

Absentee Voting

Voters may apply for an absentee ballot if unable to vote at their polling place on the day of the election due to 1) absence from Amherst during the hours in which the polls are open, 2) physical disability which prevents going to the polling place or the inability to stand in line for long periods of time, or 3) religious belief. For application details and additional information, visit the Absentee Voting webpage. 

• In-person absentee voting is now available outside the Town Clerk’s office and will remain available until 12:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, the day before the election. 
• If you are a U.S. citizen residing outside the country or on active duty or are a spouse or dependent of an active-duty personnel member, you may use a Federal Post Card Application and request a ballot get sent electronically. You must provide the address where you’re residing overseas and mark your selection to receive your voting materials by email on the application. All electronic ballots are counted at Town Hall after the polls close. For the application and additional information, visit the Military and Overseas Voters website.

In-Person Early Voting

In-person Early Voting for the State Election will take place in the First Floor Conference Room at Town Hall during the following days and times:

• Saturday, October 17 at 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Monday, October 19 at 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Tuesday, October 20 at 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Wednesday, October 21 at 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Thursday, October 22 at 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Friday, October 23 at 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Saturday, October 24 at 9:00 am – 5:00 pm  
• Monday, October 26 at 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Tuesday, October 27 at 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Wednesday, October 28 at 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Thursday, October 29 at 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Friday, October 30 at 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

In-Person Voting on Election Day 

• Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day – Tuesday, November 3. 
• Find your polling location at VoteinMA.com.
• If you requested a mail-in ballot and did not return it, you may vote in-person during Early Voting or on Election Day. Your mailed ballot can be discarded at home. 
• Attention Precinct 2-B Voters: Your polling location has changed and is now at the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, 21 Mattoon Street. This new location replaces the previous Fort River Elementary School. View all district, precinct, and polling location information.

Election Drop Box at Town Hall

• When returning your ballot, please consider using the Election Drop Box at Town Hall instead of the regular mail.  
• The election drop box is located outside the Main Street entrance to Town Hall. This ballot box is ONLY for ballots and applications for ballots. The drop box is clearly labeled and is red, white, and blue.
• Drop box ballots must be received by the close of the polls or 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. 

Questions? Visit amherstma.gov/vote, email townclerk@amherstma.gov, or call 413-259-3035.