Early voting begins on Oct. 17

Middleboro and Lakeville residents can hit the polls before Election Day. Early voting will begin on Saturday, Oct. 17 in both towns. Here’s what you need to know before early voting begins.

The ballot is longer than normal due to there being nine ballot questions. There are three pages across two sheets of paper — one double-sided, one single-sided. Voters must return both sheets when submitting their ballots either in person or through the mail.

Residents in both towns will be voting in major statewide elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Ed Markey faces a challenge from Republican candidate and lawyer John Deaton. 

Democratic Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll each seek a second term. They are running against a Republican ticket of former healthcare executive Mike Minogue for governor and New Bedford City Councilor Shawn Oliver for lieutenant governor.

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Andrea Campbell of Dartmouth faces Republican candidate Michael C. Walsh of Lynnfield.

Middleboro’s U.S. Representative, Democrat Bill Keating of Bourne, will run against Republican Mattapoisett Select Board member Tyler Macallister.

Lakeville’s U.S. Representative, Democrat Jake Auchincloss of Newton, will face Republican challenger Thomas Stalcup of Brookline.

There are three state Representative races in Middleboro. In Precincts 1 and 5A, which are in the 12th Plymouth District, voters will choose between Democratic incumbent Kathleen LaNatra of Kingston and Republican Eric Meschino of Plymouth. In Precincts 3, 6 and 7A, which are in the Second Plymouth District, voters will choose between Republican incumbent John Gaskey of Carver and Democratic Carver Select Board Member Sarah Hewins. 

In the remaining precincts, 2, 4, 5 and 7, which are in the 12th Bristol District, Republican incumbent Norman Orrall will run unchallenged.

Orrall also serves as Lakeville’s lone state Representative. 

Lakeville has two candidates for state Senate in the First Bristol and Plymouth District: incumbent Democrat Michael Rodrigues of Westport and Republican challenger Gabriel Boomer Amaral of Fall River.

Middleboro's state Senator, Republican Kelly Dooner, will not face a challenger.

There are nine separate ballot questions this year. You can read the Secretary of State’s voter guide with arguments for and against each ballot question at www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/research-and-statistics/2026-information-for-voters/guide.htm. 

All Middleboro in-person early voting will take place in the Select Board Meeting Room at Middleboro Town Hall, 10 Nickerson Ave. Early voting will be available on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 20 through Thursday, Oct. 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 23 from 8 a.m. to noon; Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 26 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 27 through Thursday, Oct. 29 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Friday, Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. to noon.

When you go to the early voting polling location, you will give your address and receive the ballot that corresponds to your precinct. 

All Lakeville in-person early voting will take place at the Old Town House, 2 Precinct St. Early voting will be available on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 19 through Thursday, Oct. 22 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 23 from 8 a.m. to noon; Saturday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 26 through Thursday, Oct. 29 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Friday, Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Early voting can also be done with a mail-in ballot. Mail ballots can be requested up until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Try to request your ballot as soon as possible if you plan on voting this way. The U.S. Postal Service says it could take up to seven days for ballots to be delivered. 

Fill out a vote by mail application using this link: https://www.middleboroughma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4358/Official-Vote-by-Mail-Application?bidId=. Once completed, bring it to the Town Clerk's office in your town.

To return your ballot, you can mail it in the provided envelope or drop it off in person at your election office, early voting locations or a drop box provided by the Town Clerk’s office. 

In Middleboro, mail-in voters can drop their ballot off at a box attached to the outside of the Town Annex or at the Town Clerk’s office front desk, 20 Center St.

In Lakeville, mail-in voters can drop their ballots off at a secure drop box outside of Town Hall, 346 Bedford St.

You cannot bring mail-in ballots to a polling place on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The deadline to register to vote in Massachusetts is Saturday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. You can register online at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/. To check your voter registration status, go to https://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx.