Question 4: Mass. voters pass Election Day voter registration

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Massachusetts will soon let citizens yearning to take part in an election show up to the polls on Election Day and register to vote last-minute.

Voters Tuesday resoundingly passed Question 4, a ballot measure that changes state law to allow for Election Day voter registration. The Associated Press called the race at about 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Once the new law takes effect, voters would still need to mind the state's current 10-day voter registration window before registration opens again on Election Day.

The change goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2028, meaning hopeful voters who miss that 10-day window can be the first to try to register on Super Tuesday, when Massachusetts and several other states take part in presidential primaries and caucuses. Super Tuesday is set for March 7, 2028.

Supporters included a number of voting rights groups. They argued the change will expand voter access, especially for renters or college students, and ensure more representative governance. While the measure had no formal opposition, some critics said they were concerned that the ballot petition would burden busy poll workers and potentially make it harder to spot voter fraud.

Question 4's passage also comes with several stipulations. Chiefly, a person can only cast a provisional ballot unless they've provided sufficient proof of residency and signed a written oath that they meet all requirements to vote.

Anyone registering to vote on Election Day will need to swear that they're a U.S. citizen who is at least 18, and that they "have not and will not vote" anywhere else. Any liars could face felony charges, with punishments of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Poll workers will accept several types of documents as proof of residency, and for those without the correct paperwork on hand, they'll have time to bring it back to the polls to ensure their provisional ballot gets the A-OK. Here are details on what documents count and how much time you'd have, depending on the election, to bring back proof.

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Lisa Creamer Managing Editor, Digital News & Audience

Lisa Creamer is WBUR's managing editor for digital news.

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