Elections Commission

Absentee voters should request an absentee ballot at least 60 days before an election. This will allow enough by-mail transit time.  Absentee ballots are sent via USPS, so be sure to allow time to receive and return the ballot packets.

2024 Census Information

If you have not received your census or are new to City, you may print a copy of this year's census below and return it to the address indicated on the form. Print the form here, sign, and return.

You’ve received your census - what’s next?

1. Review Census sheet information and reply within 10 days of receipt. 
   • If the information is correct, sign and return
   • If the information isn’t correct, make the corrections, sign and return

What happens if I don’t reply to the first mailing? 

The Commission will send out a postcard to voters who haven’t replied. If you do not reply to this second mailing, your voter registration status will be changed to inactive. You are still on the voter rolls, and are still eligible to vote, however, on election day, you will be required to sign an affirmation and show ID to vote.  

How can you return your census?

• Outside Medford City Hall in the red, white, and blue drop box
• Inside Medford City Hall:
  • Room 102 (The Election Commission)
• The US Postal Service

• Polling hours are from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
• Residents can search their precinct click: www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/
• When you approach the check-in table, you have two options for checking in
  • Provide your first and last name
  • Place your id on the scanner (this is not required) 
  • Confirm your name and address by repeating them to the election worker.  Both you and the election worker should loudly say your name and address.  This allows any observers to hear the name and address.
• In a primary election, voters who are registered in a political party may only obtain a ballot for that party. All other voters may request the ballot of any party participating in the primary election. Your party affiliation will not change, based on the ballot you choose.
• An election worker will be at the ballot box/tabulator to ensure your ballot is accepted.  Election workers are not allowed to cast your ballot.  You need to wait until you hear the ballot drop in the ballot box
• Election officials are available to answer any questions about this part of the voting process. 
• What to do if your name is not included on the voter rolls:
  • If your name does not appear on the list of voters, the Warden should contact the Election Commission Office to determine if you are registered in another precinct or different community.
  • If you are considered an inactive voter, you will need to show ID and sign an affirmation to confirm your continued residency.
  • If you believe you should be allowed to vote, but aren’t on the voter rolls, you can request a provisional ballot. Provisional Ballots allow you to cast your vote.  Provisional Ballots will be researched after the election.  If research shows you are eligible to vote, your ballot will be hand- tallied and included in the election results.

​​​​Massachusetts voters now have the option to vote early by mail in all Municipal, State and Federal Elections, with no justification required. 

State and Federal Elections:  The State is mailing 2024 application cards to each registered voter, postage prepaid. If you are already enrolled in vote by mail, you will receive a card that looks like this, indicating your selected party. If you do not receive an application, but would like to vote by mail, you may submit the following signed application to the Election Commission Office. 

Municipal Elections: The state does NOT mail out application cards for Municipal Elections. If you would like to vote by mail in Municipal Elections, you must submit the following signed application to the Election Commission Office via mail, drop box, email, or in person. You can also apply online on the www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleidx.htm.

All ballots must be returned to the Election Commission Office by the close of the polls (8:00PM), on election day. Ballots delivered to the polling location cannot be accepted.

• RECEIVING AND RETURNING MY BALLOT
  • After receiving completed applications, the Election Commission Office will mail voters Early Vote by Mail ballot with a pre-paid postage return envelope. Watch the mail for your ballot package from the Election Commission Office.
  • Return the completed ballot to the Election Commission Office, by 8:00pm the day of the election. Election Commission Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM, Wednesday 8:30 AM-7:30 PM, and Friday 8:30 AM-12:30 PM. Completed applications can be deposited in the secure ballot drop box located outside City Hall, mailed to the Election Commission Office at 85 George P. Hassett Dr, Room 102, or via email at elections@medford-ma.gov.
  • Municipal election vote by mail ballots must be received by 8:00PM on election day. 
  • State and Federal election vote by mail ballots must be received by 8:00PM on election day.
  • Ballots delivered to the polling location cannot be accepted.
  • Questions can be directed to the Election Commission Office by email or by phone at (781)-393-2490 or (781)-393-2490. 

• The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) protects the voting rights for Uniformed Services members and members of the US merchant marine, their families and all US citizens residing outside of the United States, and who is at least 18 years old. In Massachusetts, these voters are called Specially Qualified Voters.
• The primary form for requesting an absentee ballot for Specially Qualified Voters is the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).
• Download and print the Federal Post Card Application-  www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter/overview
• Are eligible to vote in Medford, if it is the community where the citizen last resided immediately prior to departing the US.
• The Federal Voter Assistance Program: (www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter/overview) has complete instructions on filling out the application
• Remember to include an email address. E-mail is the fastest way to communicate.
• The FPCA must be received in the Clerk’s Office by NOON the Monday before an election.
• FPCA forms may be mailed, faxed, or scanned and e-mailed to our office.
• Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) /www.fvap.gov/fwab-privacy-notice is only available to UOCAVA voters who have timely requested but not received their regular absentee ballot.

A voter who is a permanent absentee need not submit a request for an absentee ballot at every election. If such a voter submits a note from a registered physician indicating that he is disabled permanently, the Election Commission Office will send an application for an absentee ballot twenty-eight days before the first election each year. Upon the City Clerk's receipt of the signed application, the voter will be sent an absentee ballot for all elections that year.  Upon the receipt of the signed application, the voter will be sent an absentee ballot for all elections that year.

Download and print the physician letter form (.pdf)

When you register to vote you may choose to register in a state political party, select a political designation (i.e., become affiliated with a political organization which has not received party status in Massachusetts) or unenrolled. Unenrolled is commonly referred to as "independent" and means you are not enrolled in a party but are a registered voter. You can vote in a party primary if you are listed as unenrolled.  You will be asked by an election worker which party's ballot you would like to receive. Your voter registration does not change based on the primary ballot chosen. Unenrolled does not mean that you are not registered to vote.

• As of August 1, 2016, sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds may pre-register to vote. For further information on pre-registration see the Elections Division (state.ma.us)
• Voters can check their voter registration status on the Secretary of State’s web site at www.sec.state.ma.us or by calling the Election Commission Office at (781)-393-2490. 
• Be aware that there are voter registration deadlines. You must register to vote before any Local or State election or primary. For additional information call the Election Commission Office at (781)-393-2490. 

• Prior to obtaining nomination papers, each candidate must file a statement containing his/her name and address and the office for which he/she intends to run with the Election Commission Office.
• Before any voter may be permitted to sign a nomination paper, the candidate’s information must be filled out, including their name and address (number and street) as they appear on the 2022 voting list and the office to which they seek nomination. 
• To seek public office, you must be: 18 years of age, an American citizen, a registered voter, a resident of Medford.
• Certified signatures of at least fifty (50) voters are the minimum necessary for placement on the preliminary ballot for Mayor, City Council, and School Committee. The Election Commission need not certify more names than required plus 20%.

Preliminary Election - Determining Candidates for Municipal Election

"…there shall be held a preliminary election for the purpose of nominating candidates, if necessary, to assure that no more than twice the number of candidates for the available offices appear on the regular municipal election ballot."

After the deadline for turning in nomination papers has passed, it will be determined whether the City will hold a preliminary election based on the number of eligible candidates. All dates referring to the Preliminary Election are posted for planning purposes only and will be removed from the election calendar if it is determined that the Preliminary Election is not necessary.

Any person who is a Massachusetts resident, a United States citizen and will be eighteen years old as of the next election, is eligible to register to vote. First time voters in Massachusetts must provide a copy of their identification if registering to vote by mail. If no ID is provided, they will be required to show proof of residency at the polling location on election day. When signing the registration form, you must attest, under the pains and penalties of perjury, that you are legally eligible to register and that the information you provide is accurate and truthful. The penalty for fraudulent registration increased recently to a fine of ten thousand dollars or imprisonment for up to five years, or both. You will remain on the list of voters so long as you vote regularly and complete and return the annual municipal census. If you move to another city or City, you must re-register in your new community.

You must update your voter registration every time you move, even within the same city. If you have moved, you can update your registration by filling out a new voter registration form (PDF) and returning it to the Election Commission Office or by making the change online.

Voter registration options include:

• Online via www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleidx.htm 

• Visiting the Elections Commission Office at Medford City Hall, Room 102.

• Requesting a voter registration card via email elections@medford-ma.gov
• Requesting a voter registration card to be mailed, by calling 781-393-2490. 

Please be aware the voter registration deadlines still apply.

In addition, branches of the state Registry of Motor Vehicles, social service agencies and military recruitment offices provide voter registration services.

• Information for Voters 
• Accessible Vote by Mail application link (state.ma.us)

• Please contact the Election Commission Office ahead of the election if you have questions about accommodation and accessibility. Several handicap accessible parking spots will be available at the different polling locations. The accessible voting machine, the AutoMARK is available for use by any registered voter. This machine can read the ballot to you through headphones, magnifying the ballot text, in addition it will mark the ballot for you. Election workers are limited in the assistance they can provide voters using this machine; however, voters may bring and assign someone to assist them. Handheld magnifiers and lights can be requested at the check-in tables. Please do not hesitate to ask an election worker if you need any assistance.

Election results (official and unofficial, as well as additional updates) will be posted on this page as soon as they are available.

• 2024 State Election Official Results
• 2024 State Election Unofficial Results
• 2024 State Primary Official Results
• 2024 State Primary Unofficial Results
• 2024 Primary Election Official Results
• 2024 Primary Election Unofficial Results
• 2023 Municipal Election Official Results
• 2023 Municipal Election Partial Recount Unofficial Results

*NOTE* Unofficial results from the recounted precincts and the election day precincts have been posted to the City of Medford Election Commission page.  As communicated on the day of the recount, official results will not be posted until after certification.

See past election results here. 

Campaign Finance REports

Campaign statements of organization

Click here to view and download the precinct map.

Click here to view the pamphlet.

• 2025 Elections Calendar