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#UMassVotes

Goal: 100% Student Registration Rates
Goal: 100% Student Voting Rates

IMPORTANT REMINDER: The deadline to register to vote in the November 8 Massachusetts general election is Saturday, October 29, and the Vote by Mail application deadline is Tuesday, November 1.

Key Dates

Voter Registration Deadline
October 29
Vote by Mail Application Deadline
November 1
Early Voting
October 22 - November 4
Massachusetts Election Day
November 8

Other Important Dates

Constitution Day
September 17
National Voter Registration Day
September 20
National Voter Education Week
October 3-7
Vote Early Day
October 28
Election Hero Day
November 7

Take action now!

Check your voter registration status, register to vote, or request to vote by mail using the links below.

Resources for Massachusetts residents

Check your voter registration Register to vote Register to vote by mail

Resources for Out-of-State students

Check your voter registration Register to vote Out-of-State College Student Voting Guide

Already registered? Pledge to vote now!

Research shows that you're more likely to take an action if you commit yourself to it.

Pledge to Vote

Want to do more? Sign up to be a poll worker!

Election workers are critical to ensuring that local, state and federal elections be run effectively. Right now, there is a critical shortage of poll workers, so if you have the time, please consider volunteering your time for this important civic need.

Volunteer as a poll worker

Voting in Massachusetts

Important voter information

Voter information for Out-of-State Students

ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge's Out of State College Student Voting Guide

Let us remember that one of our greatest responsibilities as citizens is participating in the operations of democracy and exercising the right to vote. Voting is a priceless right and a solemn duty. We encourage all of our 70,000 students to register to vote; to become well-informed on the issues facing their nation, state and community; to stay up-to-date on the election rules; and when the time comes, to cast their ballot.” Joint statement from UMass President Meehan, Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, Dartmouth Chancellor Mark Fuller, Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney, and UMass Chan Chancellor Michael Collins

Campus Resources

About the #UMassVotes Campaign

#UMassVotes. Because your voice matters.

UMass is a member of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, a non-partisan national initiative that “encourages higher education institutions to help students form the habits of active and informed citizenship, make democratic participation a core value on their campus, and cultivate generations of engaged citizens who are essential to a healthy democracy.”

In August 2020, UMass President Marty Meehan joined about 200 college and university presidents and chancellors in a commitment to increase overall student voter registration, engagement and turnout through the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. As of 2022, the number of higher education institutions signed on to the ALL IN Challenge to increase student voting has grown to more than 900. Each of the five UMass campuses (Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and the UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester) have robust and active non-partisan student voter initiatives.

The #UMassVotes campaign is only one part of a commitment made by UMass President Marty Meehan and the five UMass chancellors who signed onto the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Presidents' Commitment in June of 2022.

Leaders who make the Presidents’ Commitment pledge to:

Strive toward full student voter participation by designating staff to lead this effort among the campus community;
Acknowledge the importance of student voice in all elections, preparing students to be informed and active citizens, and creating experiences to help students become lifelong voters;
Empower faculty, staff, students and community stakeholders to come together and determine solutions to the problems communities face;
Educate voters to make informed decisions about issues and candidates in presidential, national, state and local elections; and
Actively participate in a democratic engagement action plan to bolster an institutional culture that supports curricular and co-curricular involvement in the electoral process.

President Meehan is also a member of ALL IN Higher Education Presidents Council Leadership.

ALL IN Democracy Challenge

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in student democratic engagement. Learn more about the initiative at the link below.

Resources for Voters

Massachusetts Secretary of State

The official Secretary of State website for information on voter registration, polling locations, and more.

Protecting your right to vote

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office will protect your right to cast a ballot and have that ballot counted. The AG’s Office is committed to providing accurate information about voter rights, strengthening trust in our democratic process, and ensuring a free and fair election.

Related News

6/30/22 - UMass President and Chancellors sign on to national non-partisan student voter commitment

ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge’s goal is 100 percent student voter registration and participation in all elections

1/5/22 - UMass Poll: National support for expanding voting rights

A new nationwide University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll released today finds Americans continue to support a wide variety of election reforms, intended to make voting easier, while also maintaining a strong desire for photo ID requirements at voting booths.

11/10/21 - UMass Amherst earn gold rating for 2020 voting participation

Students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst earned a gold star for their voting participation in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. More than 840 institutions participated in the challenge sponsored by ALL IN, a national nonpartisan initiative of Civic Nation.

12/4/20 - President Meehan in The Hill: Smearing presidential election will turn off young voters and undermine democracy

Like other higher education leaders, I made a point over the past year of urging young people to vote.

The five-campus University of Massachusetts mounted a campaign to ensure that our 75,000 students would be safe as they registered and voted in this pandemic environment, and we were not alone.

10/31/20 - President Meehan in Commonwealth Magazine: Voter expression is cause for optimism

Voter suppression cannot be allowed to rear its head.

10/16/20 - On eve of MA early voting, UMass President's Office hosts student voter summit

Event showcases voter engagement activities from all five UMass campuses

8/12/20 - President Meehan: Voting is our obligation

Voting. For most Americans, it’s a straightforward exercise. A quick trip to a local school, library or fire station, casting a ballot and then getting on with the rest of the day.

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