Voting Resources 2020
The right to vote is the bedrock of the democracy that we cherish. Voting is one of the most powerful and effective tools we have to influence our political systems and dictate the future of our town, state, and country.
We want to make sure you have all of the information and resources you need to safely cast your ballot and participate in the democratic process. See below for information, resources, and important deadlines for voters in New England and across the country.
Jump to:
- General Info
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Nationwide Resources
- Know Your Rights
- Take Action
- Additional Resources
General Info
You are eligible to vote in U.S. elections if:
- You are a U.S. citizen
- You meet your state’s residency requirements
- You are 18 years old on or before Election Day (more here)
- You are registered to vote by your state’s voter registration deadline.
We have included additional eligibility information for New England states below, or you can find your state or local election office website here.
Not sure if you’re registered or want to confirm your registration details? Click here to check your voter registration status.
If you have moved or changed your name, you will need to re-register. Click here to find out how.
If you are overseas or in the military, you can still vote. Click here to find out how.
Need to vote absentee? Click here to request your absentee ballot.
Unsure if you are eligible to vote because of a felony conviction? Find out whether you can cast a ballot in your state (en español). We have included this information for New England states below and you can find more resources at the bottom of the page.
Voter ID laws
- Some states have laws requiring voters to present identification to vote. Click here to find your state’s voter ID requirements.
- If you need help getting an ID or questions about meeting your state’s ID requirements, visit VoteRiders.org or call 844-338-8743.
- If you want guidance updating your legal name and gender marker on state or federal documentation, visit our Transgender ID Project.
Note on registration and ballot deadlines: All voter registration forms and mail-in ballots must be postmarked by the deadline date. To ensure your vote is counted, leave extra time for the delivery since the U.S. Postal Service has warned voters about delays.
Many cities/towns across the country are also offering voters the option to drop off their ballots at a secure drop box. To find out if you have this option, visit your local election office’s website or call them. Find your election office’s contact info here.
Note on early voting: If your state allows early voting, we recommend utilizing that option to avoid crowded polling stations on Election Day or reduce the chances that your ballot will be delayed in the mail.
Click here to see more voting resources.
Connecticut
General Election: November 3
Voter registration deadlines:
- Mail: Your application must be postmarked October 27.
- Online: October 27
- In person: Election Day on November 3.
- Learn more about registering to vote in Connecticut
If you are currently incarcerated or on parole, you are not eligible to vote in Connecticut. If you have been incarcerated for an elections-related felony conviction, you are not eligible to vote until you are discharged from parole or probation. Learn more.
Vote by mail:
- Registered voters automatically receive a mail-in ballot application.
- Each city/town will have at least one secure drop box in which voters can drop off their absentee ballots if you do not want to enter town hall. Check your city/town website to find your drop off location.
- All ballots must be received by 8:00pm on Election Day, November 3.
Helpful links:
- Voting and Elections | Connecticut Secretary of State
- Connecticut: Latest Election & Voting Updates | We Can Vote
State COVID-19 links:
- COVID-19 and Connecticut’s 2020 Election | Connecticut Secretary of State
- 2020 Election Plan | Connecticut Secretary of State
Maine
General Election: November 3
Voter registration deadlines:
- Mail: Completed registration forms must be received by your election clerk by October 13.
- In person: Election Day, November 3
- Learn more about registering to vote in Maine.
If you are incarcerated and otherwise eligible to vote, you CAN cast your ballot absentee in Maine. Learn more.
Vote by mail:
- The deadline to request an absentee ballot (mail-in ballot) is October 29.
- Your completed absentee ballot must be received by your election clerk by 8:00pm on Election Day, November 3.
- Learn more about voting by mail in Maine.
Early voting:
- In-person absentee voting is permitted from October 5–October 30. Learn more.
Helpful links:
- Elections and Voting | Maine Secretary of State
- Voting Access | Disability Rights Maine
- Maine: Latest Election & Voting Updates | We Can Vote
State COVID-19 links:
- Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) | Maine Department of Health and Human Services
- Healthy Voting in Maine | Healthy Voting
Massachusetts
General Election: November 3
Voter registration deadlines:
- Mail: Your registration form must be postmarked no later than October 24.
- Online: October 24. Click here to register online.
- In person: October 14
- Learn more about registering to vote in Massachusetts
If you are currently incarcerated on a felony conviction, you are not eligible to vote in Massachusetts. You can re-register after your release. Learn more.
Vote by mail:
- Your application must be received by your election clerk by October 28.
- Your signed application can be submitted by mail, email, fax, or in person to your local election office or secure drop box near you. More information here.
- Your completed mail-in ballot must be postmarked on Election Day, November 3.
- Learn more, view the Vote by Mail FAQ, and track your mail-in ballots.
Early voting:
- Early in-person voting is available October 17-October 30.
- Learn more about early voting in Massachusetts.
Helpful links:
- Elections Division | Massachusetts Secretary of State
- State Legislative Youth Justice Voter Guides | Citizens for Juvenile Justice, GLAD, Strategies for Youth, and Mass. Voter Table
- Congressional Voter Guides | Massachusetts Voter Table
- Massachusetts Voter Resources | MassVote
- Massachusetts: Latest Election & Voting Updates | We Can Vote
State COVID-19 links:
- COVID-19 Election Updates | Massachusetts Secretary of State
- FAQ: Voting in the Age of COVID19 | MassVote
New Hampshire
General Election: November 3
Voter registration deadlines:
- Mail: Completed registration forms must be received by your election clerk by October 21.
- In person: Election Day, November 3
- Learn more about registering to vote in New Hampshire.
If you are currently incarcerated, you are not eligible to vote in New Hampshire. You can re-register after your release. Learn more.
Vote by mail:
- This year, any New Hampshire voter can request an absentee (mail-in) ballot.
- Your request must be received by 5:00pm on November 2.
- Your completed ballot must be received by 5:00pm on Election Day, November 3. You can return the ballot by mail or in person.
- Track your mail-in ballots
Helpful links:
- Elections and Voting Division | New Hampshire Secretary of State
- Voting With Disabilities | New Hampshire Secretary of State
- New Hampshire: Latest Election & Voting Updates | We Can Vote
State COVID-19 links:
- Voting During COVID-19 State of Emergency | New Hampshire Secretary of State
- Healthy Voting in New Hampshire | Healthy Voting
Rhode Island
General Election: November 3
- Register to vote
- Check your registration status
- Find your polling location
- Voter ID requirements (and here)
Voter registration deadlines:
- Mail: Completed registration forms must be postmarked October 3
- In person: October 3 at your local election office or a secure drop box. Find your drop box location here.
- Learn more about registering to vote in Rhode Island.
If you are currently incarcerated on a felony conviction, you are not eligible to vote in Rhode Island. You can re-register after your release. Learn more.
Vote by mail:
- The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is October 13. Track your mail-in ballots here.
- Your completed ballot must be received your election clerk by 8:00pm on Election Day, November 3.
Early voting:
- You can vote early in-person starting on October 14. Learn more about early voting in Rhode Island
Helpful links:
- Voter Information Center | Rhode Island Secretary of State
- A guide to safe and healthy voting in 2020 | Vote Safe Rhode Island
- Rhode Island: Latest Election & Voting Updates | We Can Vote
State COVID-19 links:
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | Rhode Island Department of Health
- Healthy Voting in Rhode Island | Healthy Voting
Vermont
General Election: November 3
Voter registration deadline:
- Vermont has same day registration, so you can register online, by mail, or in person any time before or on Election Day, November 3. Learn more about registering to vote in Vermont.
If you are incarcerated and otherwise eligible to vote, you CAN cast your ballot absentee in Vermont. Learn more.
Vote by mail:
- If you are registered to vote, the state will automatically send you a mail-in ballot.
- Your completed ballot must be received by election officials by 5:00pm on November 2.
- Track your mail-in ballot here.
Early voting:
- Early in-person absentee voting is available starting on September 21. Learn more.
Helpful links:
- Elections Division | Vermont Secretary of State
- Accessibility | Vermont Secretary of State
- Trending FAQs for Voters | Vermont Secretary of State
- Vermont: Latest Election & Voting Updates | We Can Vote
State COVID-19 links:
- 2019 Novel Coronavirus | Vermont Department of Health
Nationwide Resources
Key information for all voters, no matter where you live.
- Register to vote in your home state.
- Confirm your registration status.
- Update your registration information.
- Find your local voter registration deadline.
- Check if your state has a Primary Election.
- Learn about mail-in voting where you live.
- Locate your polling station.
- Check if your state has early voting.
Helpful links:
- Election Official Directory & State Voting Information | U.S. Vote Foundation
- State Voting Resources | We Can Vote
- State Election Information | Election Protection
- Registration Deadlines and Election Dates | HeadCount
- State Election Resources | HowToVote
- Can I Vote | National Association of Secretaries of States
- Find My State or Local Election Office Website | USA.gov
See General Info and Additional Resources for more!
Know Your Rights
If you have issues or questions when trying to vote on Election Day, call the Election Protection Hotline:
English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)
Español: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682)
Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US (1-844-925-5287)
Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, and Vietnamese: 1-888-274-8683
- Election Protection
- Election Rights Fact Sheet | Vote.org
- Voting While Trans | Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition
- Voting While Trans | NCTE’s Transform the Vote
- Voting Guide for Transgender, Gender-Nonconforming, and Nonbinary People | Lambda Legal
- Know Your Rights | ACLU
Take Action
- Sign up for reminders before important deadlines and elections.
- Remind your friends and loved ones to vote.
- Volunteer as a poll worker to help facilitate safe, successful voting.
- Urge Congress to save the postal service to ensure safe elections.
- Contact your lawmakers to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act.
- Support the HEROES Act to fund and protect our elections.
- Get counted and strengthen our democracy by taking the 2020 Census.
- Host a virtual voter registration event.
- Share this voting resource for people who have been incarcerated.
Additional Resources
General information
- Voting Information | Rock the Vote
- Vote from Home | HeadCount
- Sign up for Election reminders | TurboVote
- Common Voting and Election Terms | USA.gov
Safe and accessible voting
- Vote with Pride | HeadCount
- You Don’t Need a Home to Vote | National Coalition for the Homeless
- Voters with Disabilities Activated | National Disability Rights Network
Eligibility for people with felony convictions
- I have a felony conviction. Can I vote? (en español) | Restore Your Vote
- Felon Voting Rights | NCSL
Voting during a pandemic
- Recommendations for Voters at Polling Locations | CDC
- COVID-19 Voting Information | Rock the Vote
- Healthy Voting Guide | Health Voting
- COVID-19 State Election Alerts | Vote411
Get a ride to the polls
- The Ride to Vote | When We All Vote
- Free rides to and from the polls | Drive the Vote
- Eldercare Transportation Locator for Older Adults | Administration for Community Living
GLAD is a non-partisan organization and does not endorse candidates. What do we endorse? Voting! We encourage all eligible voters to cast their ballot and participate in the democratic process. Please share this page with your loved ones and make sure they are prepared to vote in this (and every) election.