Election Day Is Tomorrow: Boston Votes Tuesday, Polls Open 7 A.M. to 8 P.M.
The midterm general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Here is what Boston and Massachusetts voters need before they head out: hours, ID rules, and what to do with a mail ballot still sitting on the kitchen table.
Election Day is tomorrow — Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 — and polls across Boston and Massachusetts are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters who are in line at their polling place by 8 p.m. can still cast a ballot, so a line at closing time is not a reason to turn around and go home.
Most Massachusetts voters will not be asked to show identification. ID can be required in limited situations — notably for some first-time voters who registered by mail, voters on the inactive list, or when a ballot is challenged — and acceptable documents include a driver's license or other printed documentation showing your name and address, such as a utility bill, rent receipt or lease. If a problem comes up at check-in, ask about a provisional ballot rather than leaving without voting.
Still holding a mail ballot? The safest move now is hand delivery: return it to your local election office or an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day. A ballot mailed this late risks missing the count, while a dropped-off ballot is in hand before polls close.
At the top of the statewide ticket, voters choose a governor: Democratic incumbent Gov. Maura Healey is seeking a second term, facing Republican Mike Minogue. Boston ballots also carry federal, state and local contests, so checking your sample ballot through the Secretary of the Commonwealth before Tuesday morning is worth the two minutes it takes.
The Boston Election Department runs the city's polling places, and the state's voter information tools can confirm your registration status and assigned location. Pick your hour tonight — early morning and midday lines are traditionally the shortest — and Tuesday takes care of itself.
