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Question 4

Question 4: Election Day (Same-Day) Voter Registration Initiative

On the ballot

Massachusetts · November 2026 general election · Citizen initiative · Election day November 3, 2026
Topics: Elections and voting

In plain language

Question 4 would let eligible Massachusetts residents register to vote and cast a ballot on Election Day at their polling place. A person would show proof of residency, such as a driver’s license, utility bill, bank statement, lease or student fee statement, and sign a sworn statement that they are a citizen, are at least 18, and are not otherwise barred from voting. Someone without proof of residency could cast a provisional ballot and return with documentation within a set number of days. State law now closes registration 10 days before an election. Election Day registrants would remain registered for later elections.

Fiscal impact

No official fiscal note has been issued for this measure yet.

When the state publishes a fiscal analysis, it will appear here and be listed in the sources below.

What supporters and opponents say

These are summaries of arguments made by the named organizations, drawn from the sources listed below. They are their claims, not this site's, and this site takes no position on the measure.

What supporters say

  • Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin (D), who filed the petition after the Legislature declined to act over several sessions, says Election Day registration would reduce work for local election officials by cutting the number of provisional ballots that have to be checked after the polls close.
  • The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Progressive Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts have said they support the measure.

Attributed to YES on Election Day Voter Registration, Progressive Massachusetts, League of Women Voters of Massachusetts.

What opponents say

  • Chester Tam (R), a candidate for state representative in the 9th Bristol District, says he is voting no because last-minute registration raises the risk of errors and makes verification harder, and that a fixed deadline gives officials time to keep voter rolls accurate.
  • Ballotpedia reports that some local election officials have raised concerns about the additional work Election Day registration would create at the polls, and that no committee had registered in opposition as of May 2026.

Attributed to the sources cited below.

Official ballot language

The certified ballot text is not yet available for this measure. Once the state certifies it, the verbatim wording will appear here.

Sources

Everything on this page traces to these sources. Follow them to read the original documents.

Last updated . How this page is sourced and corrected is described in the correction policy.