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Voter Information

Information on registering to vote and voting in person or by mail

Election & Voter Information

For complete information on voting in Massachusetts, including registering to vote and checking your current voter registration status, visit the Voter Information page of the Secretary of State's Office.

In-Person Voting on Election Day:

  • For all elections in Rowley voting takes place in St. Mary’s Church Hall at 202 Main St., Rowley. Enter through the back parking lot.
  • Polling Hours:
    • Local Town elections: Polling will be open from Noon to 8 PM on Election Day.
    • State & Federal elections: Polling will be open from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day.

Voting by Mail

With Vote by Mail / Early Voting reinstated, Massachusetts voters now have the option to vote early by mail in all elections, with no excuse required. To request your Vote by Mail ballot, submit a signed application to the Town Clerk's office (Rowley's election Office).

A downloadable copy of the Vote-by-Mail application is available annually for that year's elections. 

A downloadable copy of the State Vote-by-Mail application will be available during years in which there is a State election. 

Full information, including mail-in deadlines for both the 2022 State Primary and State Election, is available through the Secretary of State's Office "Voting by Mail" page. 

In addition to no-excuse early voting by mail, Massachusetts has absentee voting for those who qualify. While early Vote by Mail ballots are more common, there are special circumstances where you need to apply for an absentee ballot instead. 

Absentee Ballot

To qualify for an absentee ballot, you must:

  • Be away from your city/town on Election Day; or
  • Have a disability that keeps you from voting at your polling place; or
  • Have a religious belief that prevents you from voting at your polling place on Election Day

Absentee ballots must be requested in writing at least 4 business days before Election Day. Applications are available for download, but any written request is acceptable if it has your signature on it. For absentee ballots, a member of your family may also make the request on your behalf.

Applications can be submitted by mail, email, or fax.

  • If you are applying by mail, please allow ample time for the post office to deliver at all stages. It is recommended that you allow 7 days for each instance of mailing (request for ballot, return of ballot to you, return of ballot to your local election office).
  • If you are emailing your application, you may either scan or take a photo of your signed application and email it to your local election office. Typed signatures are not acceptable.

If you are not able to print the application, you may request that one be mailed to you or you may write a letter to your local election official (Town Clerk) requesting your ballot. Make sure to include your name, your address, the place you would like the ballot mailed, and your signature. If you are requesting a primary ballot and you are unenrolled (independent), be sure to indicate which party's ballot you want to have mailed to you.

If you need an application mailed to you, you may contact the Elections Division at 1-800-462-VOTE (8683) or elections@sec.state.ma.us or you may contact your local election office directly. Remember to request the application with plenty of time to mail it back before the deadline to apply for your ballot.

Completed Absentee/Vote by Mail ballots may be returned through the following methods:

  • By mail, if sent at least 1 week before election day. Be sure to attach sufficient postage.
  • In person at Town Hall by delivering to the Town Clerk during business hours
  • At Town Hall by placing in the secure ballot drop box outside Town Hall’s south entrance (by the cemetery)

Ballots must be received by the close of polls on Election Day in order to be counted.

Voter Registration

All Citizens of the United States are eligible to vote in Town, State and Federal Elections if they are 18 years old on or before the next election. The registration deadline is twenty days before each election or Town Meeting. Residents wishing to register to vote may do so during business hours at the Town Clerk’s Office or the Registry of Motor Vehicles. You may also register by mail by calling 617-727-2828 or 1-800-462-VOTE and a form will be mailed to you. For information on voting or registering to vote in Massachusetts click here.

To find out if you are registered to vote in Massachusetts visit the "My Voter Registration Status" search page.