How to Vote

Step 1: Register to Vote
Step 2: Identify your electoral district(s) and current elected officials
Step 3: Educate yourself on the candidates with help from this guide
Step 4: Find your polling place OR request mail-in ballot*
Step 5: VOTE In-Person OR submit your mail-in ballot in a ballot dropbox

* Due to the surge in mail-in ballots and delays in the postal office, we highly recommend requesting your mail-in ballot and submitting it at least two weeks prior to the election date. Dropboxes are available across the state as well to submit your mail-in ballot. If you were registered to vote for the 2019 elections (and have not moved) you should have received a mail-in ballot already. 

Dates and Deadlines: Primary Election

Primary Election is Tuesday, September 1, 2020
The deadline to register is Saturday, August 22, 2020
The deadline to return mail-in ballot is Wednesday, August 26, 2020
The early voting period runs from Saturday, August 22, 2020, to Friday, August 28, 2020.
All ballots must be returned to your local election office by 8 pm on Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Dates and Deadlines: General Election

General Election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020
The deadline to register online to vote is Saturday, October 24, 2020
The deadline for registering by mail to vote is (postmarked by) Saturday, October 24, 2020
The deadline to register in-person to vote is Saturday, October 24, 2020
The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 28, 2020
The early voting period runs from Saturday, October 17, 2020, to Friday, October 30, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.

Elected Offices and Responsibilities

President

• Implement laws created by Congress 
• Appoint federal advisors to different agencies 
• Act as the head representative of the nation to foreign leaders

Vice-President

• Top advisor to the President
• Can lead their own policy initiative 
• Becomes President if the current president dies or the 25th amendment is invoked

U.S. Senator

• Create and pass legislation that will benefit citizens of their state and nation

U.S. Representative/Congressman/Congresswoman

• Create and pass legislation that will benefit citizens of their state and nation

Governor’s Council

• Records advice and gives consent on governor appointments, such as judges, members of the parole board, and justices of the peace

Governor (Gubernatorial)

• Signing bills into law
• Serves as commander-in-chief of the state’s National Guard
• Grants communications and pardons to prisoners
• Appointing people to various judicial and state offices, such as the Supreme Judicial Court

Lieutenant Governor

• Part of the Governor’s Council and President whenever the Governor is absent
• Becomes acting governor for the remainder of the 4-year term the governor was holding if the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office

Attorney General

• Chief Enforcement Officer and Lawyer for the State

Secretary of State

• Principle public information official
• Oversees historical records and preservation, public records, and the registry of deeds

County Commissioner

• Set and implement the policy for the county 

County Treasurer

• Responsible for maintaining county funds

State Treasurer

• Chief Financial Officer
• Responsible for maintaining state funds by investing and maintaining the State budget

Auditor

• Accounts for every dollar given to State government

State Senator

• Create and pass legislation that will benefit citizens of their district as well as the State

State Representative

• Create and pass legislation that will benefit citizens of their district as well as the State

District Attorney

• Top prosecuting attorney for crimes that happen within their County
• Investigates criminal cases independently and in coordination with local enforcement
• Determines whether to file criminal charges in court against alleged criminals
• Must act non-partisan and adhere to the highest law of ethics

Register of Probate

• Ensures the public is able to navigate the probate court system

Register of Deeds

• Handles real estate registration and land records

Clerk of Courts

• Manages the court’s single justice caseload

City Councilor

• Determines city government and administration policies, as well as adopting budgets and legislation

Sheriff

• Maintains law and order within their jurisdiction

School Board Member

• Sets the vision and goals for the school district and enforces policies to reach those goals 

General Election 2020 Candidates
*Note only contested races are listed

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT

BIDEN and HARRIS, Democratic
HAWKINS and WALKER, Green-Rainbow
JORGENSEN and COHEN, Libertarian
TRUMP and PENCE, Republican

SENATOR IN CONGRESS

EDWARD J. MARKEY, Democratic
KEVIN J. O’CONNOR, Republican

REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS

SECOND DISTRICT
JAMES P. McGOVERN, Democratic
TRACY LYN LOVVORN, Republican

FOURTH DISTRICT
JAKE AUCHINCLOSS, Democratic
JULIE A. HALL, Republican

FIFTH DISTRICT
KATHERINE M. CLARK, Democratic
CAROLINE COLARUSSO, Republican

SIXTH DISTRICT
SETH MOULTON, Democratic
JOHN PAUL MORAN, Republican

SEVENTH DISTRICT
AYANNA S. PRESSLEY, Democratic
ROY A. OWENS, SR.,Independent

EIGHTH DISTRICT
STEPHEN F. LYNCH, Democratic
JONATHAN D. LOTT, Healthcare Environment Stability

NINTH DISTRICT
BILL KEATING, Democratic
HELEN BRADY, Republican
MICHAEL MANLEY, Coach Team America

SENATOR IN STATE HOUSE

 

SECOND HAMPDEN & HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT
JOHN C. VELIS, Democratic
JOHN FRANCIS CAIN, Republican

NORFOLK, BRISTOL & MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
REBECCA L. RAUSCH, Democratic
MATTHEW T. KELLY, Republican

NORFOLK & PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
JOHN F. KEENAN, Democratic
ALEXANDER N. MENDEZ, Independent

PLYMOUTH & BARNSTABLE DISTRICT
SUSAN LYNN MORAN, Democratic
JAMES R. McMAHON, III, Republican

PLYMOUTH & NORFOLK DISTRICT
PATRICK MICHAEL O’CONNOR, Republican
MEG WHEELER, Democratic

WORCESTER, HAMPDEN, HAMPSHIRE & MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
ANNE M. GOBI, Democratic
STEVEN R. HALL, Republican

WORCESTER & MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
DEAN A. TRAN, Republican
JOHN J. CRONIN, Democratic

WORCESTER & NORFOLK DISTRICT
RYAN C. FATTMAN, Republican
CHRISTINE CREAN, Democratic

REPRESENTATIVE IN STATE HOUSE

FIRST BARNSTABLE DISTRICT
TIMOTHY R. WHELAN, Republican
JOSH MASON, Democratic

SECOND BARNSTABLE DISTRICT
WILLIAM L. CROCKER, JR., Republican
KIP A. DIGGS, Democratic
MICHAEL LUIS MECENAS, Independent

FIFTH BARNSTABLE DISTRICT
JAMES J. DEVER, Democratic
STEVEN GEORGE XIARHOS, Republican

FIRST BRISTOL DISTRICT
FRED “JAY” BARROWS, Republican
BRENDAN A. ROCHE, Democratic

THIRD BRISTOL DISTRICT
CAROL A. DOHERTY, Democratic
KELLY A. DOONER, Republican

EIGHTH BRISTOL DISTRICT
PAUL A. SCHMID, III, Democratic
EVAN GENDREAU, Republican

FOURTEENTH BRISTOL DISTRICT
JOHN D. SIMMONS, Republican
ADAM J. SCANLON, Democratic

FIRST ESSEX DISTRICT
JAMES M. KELCOURSE, Republican
AMBER HEWETT, Democratic

SECOND ESSEX DISTRICT
LEONARD MIRRA, Republican
CHRISTINA ECKERT, Democratic

SIXTH ESSEX DISTRICT
JERALD A. PARISELLA, Democratic
EUPLIO R. MARCIANO, Unenrolled Independent

THIRTEENTH ESSEX DISTRICT
SALLY P. KERANS, Democratic
ROBERT E. MAY, JR., Republican
WILLIAM J. “BILL” BATES, Independent
JASON GUIDA, Independent
CHRISTOPHER KEOHANE, Non-Party

EIGHTEENTH ESSEX DISTRICT
TRAM T. NGUYEN, Democratic
JEFFREY PETER DuFOUR, Republican

SECOND FRANKLIN DISTRICT
SUSANNAH M. WHIPPS, Independent
WILLIAM E. LaROSE, Democratic

THIRD HAMPDEN DISTRICT
NICHOLAS A. BOLDYGA, Republican
KERRI A. O’CONNOR, Democratic

FOURTH HAMPDEN DISTRICT
MATTHEW J. GARLO, Democratic
KELLY W. PEASE, Republican
ETHAN FLAHERTY, Independent Compassionate Conservative

SEVENTH HAMPDEN DISTRICT
JACOB R. OLIVEIRA, Democratic
JAMES CHIP HARRINGTON, Republican

NINTH HAMPDEN DISTRICT
ORLANDO RAMOS, Democratic
ROBERT J. UNDERWOOD, Unenrolled

ELEVENTH HAMPDEN DISTRICT
BUD L. WILLIAMS, Democratic
PRINCE GOLPHIN, JR., Republican

FIRST MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
SHEILA C. HARRINGTON, Republican
DEBORAH L. BUSSER, Democratic

FOURTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
DANIELLE W. GREGOIRE, Democratic
SYED H. HASHMI, Independent

NINTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
THOMAS M. STANLEY, Democratic
GEORGE A. DARCY, III, Unenrolled

THIRTEENTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
CARMINE LAWRENCE GENTILE, Democratic
INGRID I. CENTURION, Republican

NINETEENTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
DAVID ALLEN ROBERTSON, Democratic
ALEC M. DiFRUSCIA, Republican

TWENTIETH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
BRADLEY H. JONES, JR., Republican
MICHELLE MULLET, Democratic

TWENTY-SECOND MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
MARC T. LOMBARDO, Republican
TERESA NICOLE ENGLISH, Democratic

THIRTY-FIRST MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
MICHAEL SEAMUS DAY, Democratic
ELIZABETH R. HARRAH, Non-Party Candidate

THIRTY-SEVENTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT
DANILLO A. SENA, Democratic
CATHERINE J. CLARK, Republican

THIRD NORFOLK DISTRICT
RONALD MARIANO, Democratic
STEPHEN F. TOUGAS, Republican

FOURTH NORFOLK DISTRICT
JAMES MICHAEL MURPHY, Democratic
PAUL J. ROTONDO, Republican
DOMINIC S. GIANNONE, III, Workers Party

FIFTH NORFOLK DISTRICT
MARK JAMES CUSACK, Democratic
FRANK HERBERT COLLINS, Republican

NINTH NORFOLK DISTRICT
SHAWN C. DOOLEY, Republican
BRIAN P. HAMLIN, Democratic
JEFFREY N. ROY, Democratic

FIRST PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
MATHEW J. MURATORE, Republican
STEPHEN MICHAEL PALMER, Democratic

FOURTH PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
PATRICK JOSEPH KEARNEY, Democratic
CRAIG S. VALDEZ, Republican

FIFTH PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
DAVID F. DeCOSTE, Republican
EMMANUEL J. DOCKTER, Democratic

SIXTH PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
JOSHUA CUTLER, Democratic
TATYANA MEDVEDEV SEMYROG, Republican

TWELFTH PLYMOUTH DISTRICT
KATHLEEN R. LaNATRA, Democratic
SUMMER K. SCHMALING, Republican

SECOND WORCESTER DISTRICT
JONATHAN D. ZLOTNIK, Democratic
BRUCE K. CHESTER, Republican

THIRD WORCESTER DISTRICT
MICHAEL P. KUSHMEREK, Democratic
GLENN C. FOSSA, Republican

FOURTH WORCESTER DISTRICT
NATALIE HIGGINS, Democratic
THOMAS F. ARDINGER, Republican

FIFTH WORCESTER DISTRICT
DONALD R. BERTHIAUME, Republican
SAMUEL BIAGETTI, Democratic

SEVENTH WORCESTER DISTRICT
PAUL K. FROST, Republican
TERRY BURKE DOTSON, Independent

TWELFTH WORCESTER DISTRICT
MEGHAN KILCOYNE, Democratic
SUSAN E. SMILEY, Republican
CHARLENE R. DiCALOGERO, Green-Rainbow

REGISTER OF PROBATE

BRISTOL COUNTY
THOMAS C. HOYE, JR., Democratic
MELANIE PATENAUDE LAYDEN, Independent

HAMPDEN COUNTY
ROSEMARY A. SACCOMANI, Democratic
LORI A. LANDERS-CARVALHO, Independent

NANTUCKET COUNTY
SARAH E. MAXWELL, Democratic
BARBARA M. MENDEZ, Unenrolled

SUFFOLK COUNTY
FELIX D. ARROYO, Democratic
ALTHEA GARRISON, Independent
MELISSA TYLER, Independent

WORCESTER COUNTY
STEPHANIE K. FATTMAN, Republican
JOHN B. DOLAN, III, Democratic

COUNTY COMMISSIONER

BARNSTABLE COUNTY
RONALD R. BEATY, JR., 245 Parker Rd., Barnstable, Republican
MARK R. FOREST, 83 Indian Memorial Dr., Yarmouth, Democratic
SHEILA R. LYONS 35 Henry Doane Ln., Wellfleet, Democratic
ABRAHAM KASPARIAN, JR., 154 Weir Rd., Yarmouth, Independent Unifying Thinking

BRISTOL COUNTY
PAUL B. KITCHEN, 11 Deerfield Ln., Fairhaven, Democratic
JOHN R. MITCHELL, 312 Florence St., Fall River, Democratic
NANCY C. STANTON-CROSS, 15 Stonewall Ct., Westport, Republican

DUKES COUNTY
LEON ARTHUR BRATHWAITE, II, 9 Vineyard Meadow Farms Rd., West Tisbury, Democratic
JOHN F. CAHILL, 84 Spring St., Tisbury, Democratic
KEITH O’CONNOR CHATINOVER, 30 Simpsons Ln., Edgartown, Democratic
TRISTAN R. ISRAEL, 77 Snake Hollow, Tisbury, Democratic
CHRISTINE CATHERINE TODD, 64 Pennacook Ave., Oak Bluffs, Democratic
DONALD ROBERT LEOPOLD, 11 South Ridge Rd., Chilmark, Democratic
RICHARD G. WHARTON, 8 Gorham Ave., Oak Bluffs, Democratic

NORFOLK COUNTY
JOSEPH P. SHEA, Democratic
RICHARD R. STAITI, Democratic
HEATHER HAMILTON, Unenrolled Independent

PLYMOUTH COUNTY
GREGORY M. HANLEY, Democratic
JOHN PATRICK RIORDAN, Democratic
JARED L. VALANZOLA, Republican

COUNTY TREASURER

 

PLYMOUTH COUNTY
THOMAS J. O’BRIEN, Democratic
CARINA LEEZA MOMPELAS, Republican

SHERIFF (VACANCY)

 

NORFOLK COUNTY
JERRY P. McDERMOTT
PATRICK W. McDERMOTT

COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MARTHA’S VINEYARD COMMISSION

BARNSTABLE ASSEMBLY DELEGATE

 

FALMOUTH
DOUGLAS C. BROWN
DANIEL A. GESSEN
MICHAEL G. HEYLIN

YARMOUTH
SPYRO MITROKOSTAS
SUSAN L. WARNER

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