The 2024 United States general elections are on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and the deadlines to register are approaching. During the elections in Massachusetts, voters will decide the results of national, state and local races, including the presidential race, the race for U.S. Senate and various ballot measures. This article is a comprehensive guide to registering to vote in Brookline.
Eligibility to Register
Any Massachusetts resident and U.S. citizen who is above the age of 16 can register to vote. In order to vote, the citizen must be at least 18 years old by election day. Sixteen and 17-year-olds may pre-register so that once they turn 18, they are automatically registered to vote.
Registration Deadlines
Online: Saturday, Oct. 26 by 11:59 p.m.
In-person at a local election office: Saturday, Oct. 26 by 5 p.m.
By mail (postmarked): Saturday, Oct. 26.
How to Register
Prospective voters can register online, in person or by mail, or they might be registered automatically.
To register online, you must have a Massachusetts driver’s license or state ID. You can register online at this link.
To register in person, visit the Town Clerk’s office to fill out a voter registration form. The Town Clerk’s office is located at Brookline Town Hall (333 Washington St.), on the first floor in room 104.
To register by mail, complete a voter registration form, which can be downloaded and printed from this link. Additionally, voter registration forms are available at the Brookline Public Libraries, United States Post Offices, the high school’s library and various other locations. Once the form has been completed, it can be mailed to the Town Clerk or dropped off at the drop boxes in the Coolidge Corner Library (31 Pleasant St.), Brookline Town Hall (333 Washington St.) or Putterham Library (959 West Roxbury Parkway).
Some residents might have automatically registered to vote by doing certain things (listed below) at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, MassHealth or the Commonwealth Health Connector.
Residents can be automatically registered to vote when they:
Apply for or renew their driver’s license at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)
Apply for or renew a learner’s permit
Apply for or renew a state ID
Apply for MassHealth benefits online, in person or over the phone
Apply for health insurance through the Commonwealth Health Connector
If a voter is unsure whether they are registered to vote, they can verify their registration through the state at this link.
During the registration process, voters have the option to become a member of a political party (Democrat, Republican or Libertarian), become unenrolled (independent) or select a designation for a political organization that has not achieved party status in the state (a list can be found at this link). Members of a political party can only vote in that party’s primary election. All voters, regardless of party or designation, will receive the same general election ballot.