Inactive Voters

If you don’t respond to the Annual Street List, you’ll be put on the inactive voter list.

If you are on the inactive voter list, you can still vote. Bring identification to your polling place. You must fill out an Affirmation of Current and Continuous Residence. This allows you to cast your ballot. You’ll be added to the active voter list.

If you do not vote in two consecutive federal elections while you’re inactive, you will no longer be registered to vote. You should register to vote again.

Click here to check your voter registration status online at any time.

The Annual Street List

Every year, each city and town gathers resident information for an Annual Street List. This is also known as a city or town census. Your city or town will mail you a form. Fill it out, sign it and mail it back to confirm your address.

If you don’t respond to the Annual Street List, you will be put on the inactive voters list. Your local election office will mail you a notice. If you sign it and return it you will be removed from the inactive voters list.

You can also submit a new voter registration form or send proof of your address that includes your signature to your local election office.

Voting

If you are an inactive voter, it will be indicated on the list of voters when you check-in at your polling place. Before you can vote, you will be required to complete an Affirmation of Current and Continuous Residence. On this form, you must affirm that you continue to reside at the address at which you are registered, have moved within the same town, or have moved from one municipality to another Massachusetts municipality within six months of a state election.

You will also be asked to present identification which shows your name and the address at which you are registered to vote. It is not required that you present photo identification.

Acceptable forms of identification include:

A driver's license
A state-issued ID card
A recent utility bill
A rent receipt
A lease
A copy of a voter registration affidavit
Any other printed identification which contains your name and address

As soon as you have completed the Affirmation of Current and Continuous Residence, you will be restored to the active voters list.

Removal from the List of Inactive Voters

Inactive voters remain registered to vote until they fail to vote in two consecutive biennial state elections. Inactive voters are restored to the active voters list any time they complete an Affirmation of Current and Continuous Residence, fill out a new voter registration form, or submit anything to their local election official which is signed under penalty of perjury and confirms the voter's address.