​Vocabulary

​Candidate is a person who is running for elected office

​Ballot is a ticket or piece of paper used to vote in an election

​Polls the place where voting takes place

​Absentee Ballot is sent to a registered voter through the mail and allows that person to send their completed ballot back by mail to be counted in an election.

​Constituents are the people who are represented by an elected official

​Voter Registration

• ​Each state has its own voter registration laws

• ​In Massachusetts, a person needs to register to vote 20 days before an election

  • ​If you register by mail, it must be post marked 20 days before an election.

• ​Some states will allow 17 year olds to vote in primary elections, as long as they will turn 18 by the time it is the general election.

​Massachusetts Registration Requirements

• ​Must be 18 years old before or on the day of election

• ​Must be a citizen of the United States

• ​Must be a resident of Massachusetts

• ​Must not be under guardianship in respect to elections

• ​Must not have been convicted of corrupt practices in respect to elections

• ​Must not be currently incarcerated for a felony

​How to register

• ​Many states allow voters to register online

  • ​Massachusetts does allow online voter registration

• ​You can register by mail

  Or you can go to your local city hall to register in person

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​https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elevoterresources.htm

​Voting

​It is not required that people vote in the United States.

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​In 2020, only 67% of all citizens age 18 and older reported voting.

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When people don't vote because they don't care, it is called voter apathy.

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