What are the requirements for absentee voting?
In Massachusetts, absentee voting is a way to cast a ballot without having to go to the polls on Election Day. To be eligible to vote absentee, a voter must meet specific requirements determined by state law. In order to be eligible to vote absentee, a voter must be aged 16 or older, be a US citizen, be a Massachusetts resident, and be registered to vote at least twenty days prior to the election. The voter must also have a valid reason for why they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day. Valid reasons include physical disability, religious belief, serving as a poll worker, being an election official, and being unable to vote due to a professional, educational, or vocational obligation. Once a voter qualifies to vote absentee, they must apply for an absentee ballot in writing. The application must be received by the local election official no later than noon on the day before the election. The voter will then be mailed an absentee ballot, which must be filled out and returned to the local election official no later than the close of polls on election day. Absentee voting is a convenient way for Massachusetts voters to cast their ballot if they are unable to make it to the polls on Election Day. It is important to note, however, that absentee ballots are not counted until after the polls close on election day.
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