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Boston's Morning Newsletter
Your quick primer to Election Day — and night — in Massachusetts
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
It’s Election Day. Massachusetts officials are expecting record turnout for what has already been a historic presidential race. More than 1.7 million Bay Staters have cast early ballots, and Secretary of State Bill Galvin says he expects voter turnout to reach over 3.7 million when it’s all said and done. (The current record to beat is 3,657,972.)
Whether or not you’ve already cast your ballot, here’s what to know about Election Day — and night:
Where, when and how: Polls are open statewide until 8 p.m. You can find your personal voting location by entering your address here. (Remember, if you’re in line by 8 p.m., you have a right to vote.)
- Do I need to bring an ID? Probably not. Massachusetts doesn’t have a voter ID requirement. However, there are some situations in which you might need to show ID, like if it’s your first time voting in the state. Read more about voting on Election Day here.
- Want to double-check that your mail-in ballot was accepted? Use the state’s Track My Ballot tool. If you’re unsure it will make it in time, go vote in-person at your polling place. (Election officials will reject your mail-in ballot if it arrives after you vote in person.)
- Fun fact: While most polls in Massachusetts open at 7 a.m., cities and towns are allowed to open them earlier. For example, Franklin and Medfield both open their doors to voters at 6 a.m.
On the ballot: It’s not just the presidential race. (But you can read NPR’s latest coverage of how Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump closed out their campaigns here.) Massachusetts has contested races up and down the ballot, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s bid for a third term against Republican challenger John Deaton. Several members of the state’s all-Democratic House delegation also have opponents.
- On Beacon Hill: There are more than 50 contested races for seats in the State House. Here’s a roundup (and maps) of the most competitive House and Senate districts, from State House News Service.
- There are also five binding ballot questions, with topics ranging from the legalization of psychedelics to the minimum wage for tipped workers to the state’s high school exit exam. If you’re still struggling to decide, re-watch our live ballot question debates.
- FYI: Some voters might notice a “Question 6” on their ballot to decide local issues like property taxes or support for “Medicare-for-all.” Here’s the full list of local ballot questions.
- Go green: Our WBUR colleagues have taken closer looks at the implications of a Trump or Harris presidency on local environmental policy and offshore wind.
After the polls close: It may take time for all the national results to trickle in. But in Massachusetts, WBUR’s Walter Wuthmann reports we could see the presidential and U.S. Senate races get called pretty quickly. (WBUR will have special live coverage starting at 7 p.m., and nifty local and national race result dashboards on wbur.org.)
- Zoom out: Want to follow the presidential race like a pro? Here’s a guide to what to watch for in the key battleground states.
- Zoom in: Here are the counties to watch in those swing states.
- Go deeper: Here’s how the Associated Press calls election winners.
Meanwhile: The MBTA is marking Election Day with a new Red Line diversion. Shuttle buses will replace train service between Broadway and North Quincy today through Sunday for track work. The closure will also be extended to the Red Line’s Ashmont branch this weekend.
- The T “strongly” encourages south-side Red Line riders to take the commuter rail, which will be free between Braintree and South Station (with stops at Quincy Center and JFK/UMass, too).
- FYI: Today’s local forecast is unseasonably warm and dry. Not bad if you want to take advantage of the free Election Day bike-sharing opportunities, from Boston to Springfield.
Up north: New Hampshire’s Dixville Notch has already tallied the votes from its traditional midnight voting session — resulting in a 3-3 tie between Harris and Trump. (Perhaps an appropriate start to Election Day in a race that polls have consistently shown to be deadlocked.)
P.S.— Do you have an Election Day tradition or superstition? Massachusetts’ top politicians do. Gov. Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Deaton and others shared their customs with WBUR’s Amy Sokolow. Reply to this email to share your Election Day ritual, and we could add it to our story or share on social media.
