MA Primary Election Dates, Deadlines 2024: What To Know

MASSACHUSETTS — The 2024 primary election season in Massachusetts officially gets underway with a presidential preference primary on March 5.

The primary will decide which candidate gets Massachusetts delegates to the Republican and Democratic national conventions, to be held in July and August, respectively.

That’s not to be confused with our state’s primary to select party candidates for state and county offices in the Nov. 5 general election. The primary for those offices is on Sept. 17 this year.

Here’s what you need to know about the 2024 election calendar in Massachusetts:

Presidential Primary/Caucuses

Massachusetts has 11 electoral votes at stake in the 2024 presidential election. We decide our preferences on March 5.

Our state has a primary open to unaffiliated voters to select delegates to the national conventions.

While registered Democrats and Republicans can only vote in their party's primary, unaffiliated voters can vote in either major party primary.

Here are the deadlines to know to vote in the March primary:

Voters must be registered to vote 10 days before any election in Massachusetts. Residents can register by mail, in person at local or state offices, or even online if they have a signature on file with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. The deadline to register in 2024 is Feb. 24.

For more information on how to register to vote, click here.

An absentee ballot must be requested in writing by 5 p.m. on the fifth business day before the election, state officials said. Ballots must be received by your local election office by the close of polls on election day to be counted. The deadline to register in 2024 is Feb. 27.

For more information on absentee voting, click here.

• Related: The 2024 Presidential Nominating Calendar: What To Know

State Primary Election

The state-run primary election to select Republican and Democratic candidates for down-ballot races takes in the general election place on Sept. 3. Again, this is a primary open to voters in all parties, including those not registered as Democrat or Republican.

Among the key races are both the U.S. Senate and House, as well as the Massachusetts Senate and House. Local races to be decided include a special election to fill a vacant seat in the Massachusetts General Court and eight seats on the Governor's Council.

Voters must be registered to vote 10 days before any election in Massachusetts. Residents can register by mail, in person at local or state offices, or even online if they have a signature on file with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. The deadline in 2024 is Aug. 24.

For more information on how to register to vote, click here.

An absentee ballot must be requested in writing by 5 p.m. on the fifth business day before the election, state officials said. Ballots must be received by your local election office by the close of polls on election day to be counted. The deadline for 2024 is Aug. 26.

For more information on absentee voting, click here.

General Election, Nov. 5

Offices on the ballot on Nov. 5 include:

• Electors of President and Vice President
• U.S. Senator
• U.S. Representative
• Governor’s Councillor
• State Senator
• State Representative
• Register of Deeds
• Clerk of Courts
• County Commissioner in certain counties only
• Additional local offices in certain cities and towns

Other State Elections

Many towns in Massachusetts will host an annual town election in the spring, and some will also host a Town Meeting.