MA 2026 State Primary Voter Guide: Early Voting Begins This Weekend

Bay State residents looking to cast an early ballot for the upcoming Sept. 1 state primary can do so in person starting this weekend.

Early, in-person voting — as mandated in Massachusetts for all state and federal elections — begins on Saturday, with cities and towns offering in-person options at sites and times of their choosing.

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Municipalities must offer at least one weekend of early voting ahead of the Sept. 1 primary — which will see a contested state primary race for U.S. Senate, two contested primary races for U.S. Representative seats, and Republican races for governor and lieutenant governor to challenge the Maura Healey-Kim Driscoll ticket.

The most prominent race is for the Democratic nomination for the state's junior U.S. Senate seat, where U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton is challenging U.S. Sen. Ed Markey.

The race has become contentious over the summer as Moulton has pressed Markey on his age, ability to effect change over 50 years in Washington, and even his name's inclusion in the released Epstein files, while Markey has hit back at Moulton for his 2024 post-election comments on transgender athletes, family investments and what Markey has said are Moulton's votes that are sympathetic to Republicans and the Make America Great Again movement.

• Markey, Moulton Trade Punches In Contentious U.S. Senate Democratic Primary Debate

The winner of the primary will take on Republican John Deaton in November.

The two contested U.S. Representatives include a crowded field of Democrats to replace Moulton in the 3rd Congressional District, and Democrat Patrick Roath's challenge to incumbent Stephen Lynch in the 8th Congressional District.

• 6th District U.S. Representative Primary Race Heats Up In Final Weeks

Republicans are lining up their challenges to the Healey-Driscoll ticket in November with North Shore veteran and businessman Mike Minogue and former MBTA chief and U.S. Marine Brian Shortsleeve squaring off for the gubernatorial nomination, while Peabody City Councilor Anne Manning-Martin is looking for write-in support in the lieutenant governor race against Shawn Oliver.

Massachusetts offers no-excuse, vote-by-mail. Ballots must be requested by Tuesday.

Ballots must be returned to designated sites in cities and towns — not polling locations — by the close of polls on election night.

Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day.

The Massachusetts General Election is set for Nov. 3.

Check back with Patch for full Election Night coverage on Sept. 1.