Can I check if I'm still registered to vote or do I need to register again?

October 15, 2008 8:54 AM

So I registered to vote in MA in 2004 but I've moved a few times since then. Can I check if I'm still registered or do I need to register again?

I've searched online for about 2 hours now but I can't find any information on how I can check whether I'm still registered.

Now....I know I can re-register with my new address, but I'm wondering (assuming my registration is still good) if I can just leave it be and go to my old town (where I was living in 2004) in November 2008 and cast my vote there.

The only piece of information I was able to come up with is the main telephone number for the town hall of where I used to live, so I can call them also but I don't want to go bouncing around from department to department until I may or may not reach the right person.

posted by eatcake to law & government (5 answers total)

Have you tried the Can I Vote website?
posted by Carol Anne at 9:03 AM on October 15, 2008

Today is the deadline to register to vote in MA, so if you are not registered to vote, you would definitely need to get yourself to your town's city hall in order to do so.

If it turns out that you are registered to vote but not at your current address, then you should register to vote today where you live as otherwise you run the risk of not being able to vote or of having your ballot discounted.

A simple call to your town's elections office can tell you if you are registered to vote in that town, or if you happen to be in Boston, you can check online here.
posted by zizzle at 9:29 AM on October 15, 2008

You may not still be registered at your old address - when I moved out of my parents' house, for example, my mom told me she crossed me off on the annual census the town sent out, and I was kicked off the voter rolls (I called town hall to check). So it's possible you have been knocked off the voter roll in your old town in a similar fashion.

Definitely call town/city hall and if you can stop by to fill out a voter registration form, I would do so. If you live(d) in Boston you can check online here.
posted by sutel at 10:56 AM on October 15, 2008

It may be easiest to just re-register. That's what I did when I moved recently in Mass. But today's the deadline!
posted by scottso17 at 11:55 AM on October 15, 2008

Yes, I think I'm just going to re-register that try to chase this. I've filled out the form already and just need to get it postmarked in the next hour. (right?)

Thank you all.
posted by eatcake at 12:52 PM on October 15, 2008