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Register to Vote
DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS MARCH 8, 2023 FOR ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION
To participate in an election in Winchester, you must be registered to vote in the town. Anyone who meets three basic criteria can register. The criteria are:
- You are a citizen of the United States;
- You will be 18 years old on or before Election Day;
- You are a Winchester resident.
How to Register
See if you are registered in Winchester. You can register in person, by mail, or online.
Download a voter registration form (PDF) PDF PDF PDF PDF . Please call our office if you need the form mailed to you.
Mail-in voter registration forms are also available at a variety of public agencies, including the Registry of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Transitional Assistance. Please note that, to vote in a particular election, you must be registered at least 10 days prior to the election.
Once you are registered, you will remain registered as long as you continue to vote and/or return the annual street listing form sent to you by the Registrar of Voters. If you move, you will need to re-register under your new address. Please contact the Town Clerk’s Office if you have any questions or need additional information.
Changing Your Address
You must update your voter registration every time you move. If you have moved, you may update your registration by filling out a new voter registration form either online or in person. If you move after the deadline to register to vote in a state election or primary, you should return to vote at your previous polling place in Massachusetts, and then update your registration after the date of the election or primary. State law allows you to vote from a previous address in a state election for up to six month after you have moved, as long as you have not registered elsewhere.
Political Parties
If you wish to change your party enrollment, you may do so by filling out a new voter registration form. Members of political parties may vote only in their own party’s primary elections. Unenrolled voters (commonly referred to as “Independents”) and members of political designations or minor parties may vote in the party primary of their choice. Choosing to vote in a particular party’s primary does NOT enroll you as a member of that party.
A full list of political parties and designations may be found here Version OptionsRegister to VoteHeadline.
Pre-registering to Vote
Though you must be 18 years old in order to vote, you may pre-register to vote once you are 16 years old. If you are 16 or 17 years old, you may submit a voter registration form, we will then place your name on the list of pre-registrants. You will receive a pre-registration notice by mail, confirming receipt of your application. Pre-registration may be done online, by mail, or in person.
Once you become old enough to vote, we will mail you an acknowledgement notice, which is confirmation that your name has been moved from the list of pre-registrants to the list of registered voters. Your acknowledgement notice will include your party affiliation and the location of your polling place.
It is important to keep us informed of any changes to your information. You must submit a new voter registration form if you wish to change your name, address, mailing address, or political affiliation.