Early & Mail Voting Statistics

2024

Below are statistics on how ballots were cast in the 2024 statewide elections, including the Presidential Preference Primary, State Primary, and State Election.

Mail – 34.2%
Early – 17.0%
Election Day – 48.8%
Total Ballots Cast – 3,512,866

Mail – 61.8%
Early – 3.4%
Election Day – 34.8%
Total Ballots Cast – 841,940

Mail – 42.7%
Early – 4.1%
Election Day – 53.2%
Total Ballots Cast – 1,249,783

Detailed breakdowns by city and town of voter turnout, including turnout by method of voting and statistics on rejected mail ballots, can be downloaded below.

Download a spreadsheet of 2024 State Election Ballot Statistics (xlxs)

Download a spreadsheet of 2024 State Primary Ballot Statistics (xlxs)

Download a spreadsheet of 2024 Presidential Preference Primary Ballot Statistics (xlxs)

2022

In July of 2022, state law was changed to create a permanent system of no-excuse early voting, which guarantees voters the right to vote early or by mail in state elections and state primaries.

Voters in the 2022 September State Primary and the 2022 November State Election were able to choose whether they wanted to vote by mail, vote early in person, or vote in person on Election Day. Below are statistics on how votes were cast in each election.

Mail – 37.3%
Early – 7.5%
Election Day – 55.2%
Total Ballots Cast – 2,511,461

Mail – 45.6%
Early – 4.6%
Election Day – 49.7%
Total Ballots Cast – 1,052,414

Detailed breakdowns by city and town of voter turnout, including turnout by method of voting and statistics on rejected mail ballots can be downloaded below.

Download a spreadsheet of 2022 State Election Early & by Mail Voting Statistics.
Download a spreadsheet of 2022 State Primary Early & by Mail Voting Statistics.

2020

In 2020, the way Massachusetts voters cast their ballots underwent a dramatic change. Beginning with the September 2020 State Primary, voters had 3 options to cast their ballots: in person on Election Day, in person during the early voting period, or by mail.

Below is a statewide breakdown of the methods used to cast ballots in each of the three statewide elections held in 2020. No-excuse voting by mail was available for the September State Primary and the November State Election. For the March Presidential Primary, a limited 5-day early voting period was available, while absentee ballots were available only to those who qualified by having a specific excuse.

Mail – 41.7%
Early – 23.1%
Election Day – 35.2%
Total Ballots Cast – 3,657,972

Mail – 47.7%
Early – 12.2%
Election Day – 40.1%
Total Ballots Cast – 1,706,992

Absentee – 3.3%
Early – 13.3%
Election Day – 83.4%
Total Ballots Cast – 1,700,961

Detailed breakdowns by city and town of voter turnout, including turnout by method of voting can be downloaded below. Information on rejected ballots is also included in statistics for the State Primary and State Election.

2020 State Election Early and Vote by Mail Statistics (xlxs)
2020 State Primary Early and Vote by Mail Statistics (xlxs)
2020 Presidential Primary Early and Absentee Statistics (xlxs)

2018

In 2018, Massachusetts voters were able to vote early in a midterm election without needing an excuse for first time. Early voting, which began in 2016, was available over a 12-day period for the November 6, 2018 State Election.

Early voting was not available for the September 4, 2018 State Primary. Aside from a small number of absentee ballots, which could only be cast by voters who qualified with a specific excuse, all State Primary ballots were cast on Election Day.

Below is a breakdown of the methods of voting in the November 6, 2018 State Election.

Absentee – 3.1%
Early – 21.2%
Election Day – 75.7%
Total Ballots Cast – 2,752,665

A detailed breakdowns by city and town of voter turnout, including turnout by method of voting can be downloaded below.

2018 State Election Early and Absentee Statistics (xlxs)

2016

Beginning with the November 8, 2016 State Election, Massachusetts voters were able to cast their ballots before Election Day, without needing an excuse, for the first time. Over a 12-day early voting period, over 1 million ballots were cast across the Commonwealth.

Early voting was not available for the September 8, 2016 State Primary. Aside from a small number of absentee ballots, which could only be cast by voters who qualified with a specific excuse, all State Primary ballots were cast on Election Day.

Below is a breakdown of the methods of voting in the November 8, 2016 State Election.

Absentee – 4.5%
Early – 30.7%
Election Day – 64.8%
Total Ballots Cast – 3,378,801

A detailed breakdown by city and town of voter turnout, including turnout by method of voting can be downloaded below.

2016 State Election Early and Absentee Statistics (xlxs)