Can independents vote in primaries in Massachusetts?

Yes. If you’re registered as unenrolled — what most people call independent — you can vote in any state primary. At your polling place, you ask for one party’s ballot. Voting on it doesn’t change your registration. You walk out still unenrolled.

The Secretary of the Commonwealth puts it simply: “every registered voter can vote in a primary election.”

That’s true. And there’s a catch.

You get one ballot. Take the Democratic ballot and you can only vote in the Democratic races. Take the Republican ballot and it’s the same on that side. You can’t mix.

That’s because political party primaries only allow you to vote for the candidates they list on that ballot. Two-thirds of Massachusetts voters are independents — about 3.5 million of us are unenrolled. That’s more than Democrats and Republicans combined in 349 of our 351 cities and towns.

So unfortunately a lot of people skip the primary rather than pick a side. That would be fine if the primary were the warm-up act.

It isn’t.

The primary is usually the election that decides

Here’s how the Massachusetts primary elections on September 1, 2026 went.

There were 400 possible primaries for the state Legislature — one per party, per seat. Only 42 had more than one candidate, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Democratic and Republican candidate lists. That’s 90% with no competition at all.

Of those 42 contested primaries, 32 produced a winner with no major party opponent in November. In other words: those seats were all but decided in on September 1, not on Election Day.

And September is when most people aren’t paying attention. In 2022, about one in five registered voters cast a primary ballot. More than half voted in November.

Put those together. The election that actually picks your representative is the one most people skip — and the one two-thirds of voters have to pick a side to enter. When those voters show up in November, most of the decisions have already been made without them.

When politicians never face a serious opponent, they stop listening. That’s not a partisan point. It’s true whichever party holds the seat.

Question 3 changes this

Question 3 is on the Massachusetts ballot on November 3, 2026. A YES vote creates an all-party primary for state and federal offices. One primary ballot. Every candidate on it. Every voter can vote. The top two vote-getters go on to November. Your city and town elections don’t change. Read the official ballot summary and full text.

Party labels stay on the ballot next to each candidate’s name. Parties and political groups can list their endorsements on the ballot too, if the candidate accepts, so you can see who’s backing whom.

For an unenrolled voter, that means no more choosing a party’s ballot. You vote in every race, for any candidate, on the same ballot as everyone else.

That means two candidates who actually have a shot have to compete for your vote. That means listening to you. That means your representative has to work for your vote.

Question 3 was put on the ballot by more than 100,000 Massachusetts voters who signed the petition. It’s backed by leaders from both parties and neither — former Governor Deval Patrick, former Lt. Governor Kerry Healey, former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, and former MassGOP Chair Jennifer Nassour — along with the NAACP New England Area Conference and dozens more. Read what Question 3 does.

Who can vote in Massachusetts

To vote in Massachusetts you must be a U.S. citizen, a Massachusetts resident, at least 18 on Election Day, and not currently in prison for a felony conviction. You must be registered.

The deadline to register, update your address, or change your party is 10 days before any election. For the November 3, 2026 election, that’s Saturday, October 24. If you’re 16 or 17, you can pre-register now and you’ll be added to the rolls when you turn 18.

Register or check your registration with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Your rights at the polls

Massachusetts law spells out your rights in the Voters’ Bill of Rights. You have the right to:

• Vote if you’re a registered voter, including if you’re in line when the polls close
• Vote in private, without anyone trying to influence you
• Get help from a person of your choice, or from two poll workers
• Bring notes or a sample ballot into the booth
• Get up to two replacement ballots if you make a mistake
• Cast a provisional ballot if your eligibility is questioned
• Use an accessible polling place and voting booth
• Vote by mail, or vote early in person

If any of these is denied, call the Secretary’s office at 1-800-462-VOTE.

How Massachusetts elections work

Most state and federal races here happen in two rounds.

The primary. Each party runs its own primary on the same day. If you’re enrolled in a party, you get that party’s ballot. If you’re unenrolled, you choose one. Candidates running without a party skip the primary and go straight to November.

Voting by mail? You have to pick your party ballot on the application. Leave it blank and you won’t get a primary ballot at all.

The general election. Everyone is on one ballot in November, and every registered voter can vote for anyone — whether or not you voted in the primary.

Questions people ask

Can independents vote in primaries in Massachusetts?

Yes. If you’re registered as unenrolled, you can vote in a state primary. You ask for one party’s ballot at the polls. Taking it doesn’t change your registration.

If I’m registered as an independent, can I vote for any party?

In November, yes. In a primary, no. You choose one party’s ballot and can only vote for the candidates on it. You can’t vote for a Democrat in one race and a Republican in another.

Is unenrolled the same as independent?

Yes. “Unenrolled” is the official Massachusetts term for a voter who isn’t enrolled in a major political party. Most people say independent. On your registration, they’re the same thing.

Does taking a party’s primary ballot make me a member of that party?

No. You stay unenrolled.

Can I vote in both primaries?

No. One ballot per voter.

Who can vote in a primary election in Massachusetts?

Any registered voter. Party members get their party’s ballot. Unenrolled voters pick one. Everyone gets exactly one ballot.

Are Massachusetts primaries open or closed?

Neither, exactly. Massachusetts has party primaries. Party members can only vote in their own party’s primary. Unenrolled voters can choose either party’s ballot, but only one.

If I didn’t vote in the primary, can I still vote in November?

Yes. Every registered voter can vote in the general election, whether or not they voted in the primary and whatever their party.

What percentage of Massachusetts voters are independent?

About 67%, or two-thirds. That’s about 3.5 million people — more than Democrats and Republicans combined in 349 of the state’s 351 cities and towns.

When is the voter registration deadline in Massachusetts?

Ten days before any election. For the November 3, 2026 election, it’s Saturday, October 24.

What are voter rights in Massachusetts?

The rules that say who can register, who can vote, and how you’re treated at the polls: a private ballot, help if you need it, an accessible polling place, and a provisional ballot if there’s a question about your eligibility. They also cover which elections you can vote in — including, for unenrolled voters, the one-party-ballot rule in primaries.

What is an all-party primary?

A primary where every candidate is on one ballot, every voter can vote for any of them, and the top two go on to the general election. Each candidate’s party is listed next to their name, and parties can print their endorsements on the ballot. Here’s how it compares to other primary systems.

What would Question 3 change for independent voters?

Everything above about picking a party’s ballot goes away. Under Question 3, every candidate is on one primary ballot, every voter can vote for any of them, and the top two go to November. Party labels and endorsements are printed next to each name.

More questions? Read the full Question 3 FAQ.

Vote YES on Question 3

You came here to find out whether you can vote. You can.

Question 3 is about making that vote count — in the election that actually decides who represents you, not just the one after it.

Vote YES on Question 3 on November 3. Request a free lawn sign so your neighbors know it’s on the ballot, or sign up to help.