Voter Registration

Requirements

Any person who is an Amherst resident and United States citizen may register to vote in Town. Residents who are 16 and 17 years old are eligible for pre-registration. 

You must attest, under the pains and penalties of perjury, that you are legally eligible to register and that the information you provide is accurate and truthful. The penalty for fraudulent registration is a fine of $10,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.

The State recently completed work on a new website to provide Massachusetts voters the ability to search for and verify their current voter registration status. This tool is designed to provide up-to-date information on voter registration status and information for voters so they can register to vote.

The State developed this functionality while trying to maintain as much privacy as possible. A voter can verify their voting status by entering their name (as registered), date of birth and zip code. If they are not a registered voter they will be instructed on how to register to vote.  Click here  to check your voter registration status.

Fraud Alert!
 According to the Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, scammers may send messages asking for your Social Security number or financial information supposedly to register you to vote - or to confirm your registration - when they really want to commit identity theft.
 
 PLEASE NOTE: In Massachusetts, when you register to vote, you will be asked to provide either your Massachusetts Driver's License number, OR the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. These are used for verification purposes. YOU SHOULD NEVER BE ASKED TO PROVIDE YOUR FULL SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER BY A LEGITIMATE ELECTION OFFICIAL.

How to Register

Pre-Register

Residents who are 16 and 17 years old can pre-register to vote by using any of the methods listed below. On your 18th birthday, you will be taken off the list of pre-registrants and moved to the list of registered voters. You will receive an acknowledgement notice from our office confirming this change. Please note that you may be asked to show identification at your polling location if it is your first time voting in Massachusetts in a Federal election. Additional information on identification requirements can be found here.

In Person

You may visit the Town Clerk's Office in Amherst Town Hall and complete a voter registration form in person.  Please note that the deadline to register to vote in-person for any election is 5:00 pm 10 days before the election.

Online Voter Registration

You may also register to vote online.  Anyone with a valid Massachusetts drivers license or ID card, and has a signature on file with the RMV will be able register online, update their address, or change their party enrollment. Massachusetts residents who do not have identification issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles can still complete an application online which they can print, sign, mail or hand-deliver to their local election official. Online voter registrations must be executed by 11:59 PM 10 days prior to an election.

Mail-in Form

You may obtain a mail in voter registration form by clicking here or by: 

  • Calling (800) 462-VOTE
  • Voter registration forms that are mailed in must be postmarked by the last day to register to vote 

automatic voter registration

As of January 1, 2020 any Massachusetts citizen conducting certain transactions through the Registry of Motor Vehicles, MassHealth, and the Commonwealth Health Connector will be automatically registered to vote.  

You will be automatically registered to vote when you: 

  • Apply for or renew a driver's license or learner's permit
  • Apply for or renew a State ID
  • Apply for MassHealth benefits online, in person, or by phone
  • Apply for health insurance through the Commonwealth Health Connector
For further information on registering to vote please visit the Secretary of State's website.

Parties and Political Organizations

When you register, you may choose to become a member of a political party, select a designation for a political organization that has not achieved party status in the state, or choose to become an unenrolled voter (commonly referred to as independent).

Remember that if you register in a particular party, for primary elections ONLY, you will receive a ballot designated for that party. Unenrolled voters may request any party ballot in a primary election.