VOTER REGISTRATION

All residents of Truro (18 years of age and over) who are not already registered voters must be registered to vote by Friday, May 8th , 2026 at 5:00 pm is the final date and time to be registered for the upcoming Annual Town Election which will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

In Person:  You may visit the Town Clerk’s Office in Truro located at 24 Town Hall Road and complete a voter registration form in person.

Mail-In Voter Registration:  Mail-in voter registration forms are available at the Town Clerk’s Office. Mail-in voter registration forms may also be obtained by calling the State Elections Division at (800) 462-VOTE or visiting the website at voter-registration_English.pdf (state.ma.us)  In addition, the state registries of motor vehicles, social services agencies and military recruitment offices provide voter registration services.

Online Voter Registration:  You may also register using the NEW Online Voter Registration System at www.RegisterToVoteMA.com.  To submit an online application, you must have a valid driver’s license, learner’s permit, or non-driver ID issued by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RVM).  You must also have a signature on file with the RMV.  If you do not have an RMV ID, you may still use the online system to create an application.  PRINT and sign the completed form, and then mail or bring it to your local election official.  The online system will allow you to: apply to register to vote in Massachusetts, change your name or address for voter registration purposes, enroll in a political party, change your party enrollment, or unenroll from a party.

Registered Voters:  Voters are required to return the Census form annually to retain their “Active” status on the voter list.  If you are a registered voter and do not respond to the census, the Board of Registrars is required by law to move you to the “INACTIVE VOTER LIST” (MGL, Ch 51,§4). You will still be eligible to vote in Truro, but only after completing an “Affirmation of Current & Continuous Residence” form and showing evidence (i.e. driver’s license or other acceptable documentation) when you go to the polls.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES:

• Be a US Citizen
• Be a Massachusetts resident
• Be at least 16 years old (to register) and 18 years old (to vote)

• 10 days prior to all primaries and elections, annual and special town meetings

When a voter registration date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline falls back to previous workday.  

WRITE-IN CANDIDATE

If anyone is wishing to run as a "write-in" candidate, to please give the Town Clerk's office a courtesy call at 508-214-0925 or email at ntudor@truro-ma.gov.  The first step in running for office as a "write-in" candidate is checking with local officials about any particular technicalities involved.  The Town Clerk's office will give guidance on the general requirements that its needed to run as a "write-in" candidate.  By notifying the Town Clerk's office, the Town Clerk will inform precinct officials to carefully count all "write-ins".

It is important for you to give clear instructions to voters about the office which you are seeking and where to write in your name. Please note that write-in votes are counted for the office where the name is written. For example, if you are running for Select Board, but the voter places your name under school committee, you will receive a vote for School Committee.

Please be aware that campaign materials, including flyers, cannot be distributed within 150 feet of the polling location. The 150-foot area includes the polling place, in the building where the polling place is located, on the walls thereof, on the premises on which the building stands, or within 150 feet of the building entrance door to such polling place.

To be elected in a general election, a write-in candidate must receive more votes than any other candidate for that office. There is no minimum number of votes required.

Absentee Ballot Applications can be filed annually after January 1st for all elections to be held in the Calendar year 2026.  - see attachment below for Absentee Ballot Application.

Absentee Voting applies to:

• A registered voter who is absent from the voter’s city or town during normal polling hours;
• A registered voter with a physical disability that prevents them from going to the polling place (including precautions being taken relating to illnesses- admitted to the hospital within 1 week of the election, or quarantined within 1 week of the election); or
• A registered voter is unable to go to the polls because of religious beliefs,
• A non-registered voter who is absent from the state; or
• An active member of the armed forces or merchant marines, their spouses or dependent; or
• A non-registered voter who is confined in a correctional or a jail, except if by reason of felony conviction.

If you are NOT going to be in town between the hours of 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M., you may wish to vote in absentia.  All Ballots will need to be returned to the Town Clerk's office (Drop Box) before 8pm on Election Day.

All applications for an Absentee Ballot by mail must be received by the Town Clerk before 5:00pm on May 12, 2026.

In-Person Absentee Voting

Absentee voting in person is available during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm at the Town Clerk's Office-until Monday, May 18th at 12:00 P.M.

EARLY VOTING

Early voting in person is currently not scheduled for this Election, however applications for Vote By Mail Applications must be received by the Town Clerk before 5:00pm on May 12th, 2026.

EMERGENCY BALLOTS

If you have been admitted to a healthcare facility within 7 days of an election, or you have been instructed by a medical professional or public health official to self-quarantine in your home within 7 days of an election, you may use the absentee ballot application to designate someone to pick up your emergency absentee ballot, deliver it to you, and return it to the Town Clerk. There is no deadline to submit an application for an emergency ballot, but your ballot must be returned to the Town Clerk by the close of polls.

DROP BOX

The drop box will be utilized for election mail including absentee/early voting applications and ballots.

OTHER VOTER INFORMATION:

• Absentee Ballot Information & Absentee Ballot Application 
• Accessible Vote by Mail Information
• Check your voter status click here
• Voting with the AutoMark Machine & Helpful Video
• Directory of Political Parties and Designations
• Absentee Ballot Application 
• Voter Registration Form
• Vote By Mail Application