On Election Day, everyone votes at Amesbury High School, 5 Highland Street. Polling hours are 7 am - 8 pm. If you don't know what district you are in, you can check the online street and district list (PDF).
Please contact the City Clerk's Office ahead of time if you have questions about accommodations and accessibility. Several handicap accessible parking spots will be available at the high school. The accessible voting machine, the AutoMARK is available for use by any registered voter. This machine can read the ballot to you through headphones, magnify the ballot text, and mark the ballot for you. Election workers are limited in the assistance they are able to 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.
If you have not registered to vote, you may do so at the Clerk's Office in City Hall or online You can only be a registered voter in one place and should register at the address you consider to be your primary residence.
The deadline to register to vote in any election is ten (10) days prior to the date of the election. For registration deadlines, please refer to the election calendar below.
Sample Ballots
Please check back for sample ballots for the Municipal Election. They will be posted as soon as they are available.
Final day and hour to obtain nomination papers; and Last day and hour to submit nomination papers to the Board of Registrars for certification of signatures
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Last day and hour to submit nomination papers certified by the Board of Registrars with the City Clerk
Wednesday August 16, 2023
List of candidates posted
Thursday August 17, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Last day and hour to file withdrawals of/or objections to nomination papers with the City Clerk
Friday, August 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.
Drawing by lot of position on ballot for Preliminary Election
Friday, September 8, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Last day and hour to register voters for the Preliminary Election
Monday, September 11, 2023 at 6 p.m.
Ballot Testing with the Board of Registrars for the Preliminary Election
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Last day and hour to apply for vote by mail or absentee ballots to be mailed for the Preliminary Election
Monday, September 18, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.
Last day and hour to apply for absentee ballots in person for the Preliminary Election
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Last day and hour to file recount petition with the City Clerk
Last day and hour for filing withdrawals of or objections to nominations made at the Preliminary and for filing written acceptances by write-in or sticker candidates who won in the Preliminary with the City Clerk.
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Drawing by lot of position on ballot for the Municipal Election
Friday, October 28, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Last day and hour to register voters for the Municipal Election
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
Ballot Testing with the Board of Registrars
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Last day and hour to apply for vote by mail or absentee ballots to be mailed for the Municipal Election
Monday, November 6, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.
Last day and hour to apply for absentee ballots in person for the Municipal Election
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Municipal Election
Friday, November 17, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Last day and hour to file recount petition with the City Clerk
*Ballot testing dates subject to change depending on Board of Registrars availability/when test ballots and machine equipment are received.
The Board of Registrars are always accepting election worker applications. If you are interested in helping the City continue to conduct fair and transparent elections, please return the form to the City Clerk's Office. All Election workers are considered seasonal/part-time employees of the City and must fill out the appropriate paperwork.
Nomination Papers
Certified signatures of at least fifty (50) voters are the minimum necessary for placement on the preliminary ballot for Mayor, Councilor at Large, School Committee, Planning Board, Library Trustees and Housing Authority, and at least twenty-five (25) voters for District Councilors (City Charter, Part VII, S 7-2(a)). Board of Registrars need not certify more names than required plus 20%.
Nomination papers can be pulled for the following offices for the 2023 Municipal Election:
Office
Term Length
Number of Openings
Mayor
4 Years
1
District 1 City Councilor
2 Years
1
District 2 City Councilor
2 Years
1
District 3 City Councilor
2 Years
1
District 4 City Councilor
2 Years
1
District 5 City Councilor
2 Years
1
District 6 City Councilor
2 Years
1
At Large City Councilor
2 Years
3
Library Board of Trustees
4 Years
4
Planning Board
4 Years
3
School Committee
4 Years
3
School Committee
2 Years
1
Preliminary Election - Determining Candidates for Municipal Election
Per City Charter Section 7-1, "…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 or not 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.
Early Voting
In person early voting is offered only for State Elections. There will be no in person early voting for the 2023 Municipal Elections.
Vote by Mail
Massachusetts voters now have the option to vote early by mail in all Municipal, State and Federal Elections, with no excuse required.
State and Federal Elections: For State and Federal Elections, the State mails application cards to each registered voter, postage prepaid. If you do not receive an application, but would like to vote by mail, you may submit the following signed application to the City Clerk's Office.
Municipal Elections: The state does NOT mail out application cards for Municipal Elections. If you would like to vote by mail in the 2023 Municipal Elections, you must submit the following signed application to the City Clerk's Office via mail, drop box, email, or in person. You can also apply for one online on the Secretary of State's website.
All ballots must be returned to the City Clerk's Office by close of the polls on election day. Ballots delivered to the polling location cannot be accepted.
Absentee Ballot Requests
A registered voter who will be unable to vote at the polls on Election Day due to: (1) absence from the voter's city or town during normal polling hours; or (2) physical disability preventing you from going to the polling place; or (3) religious belief, can apply for an absentee ballot to be mailed or filled out in office. If none of the above requirements apply to you, you may still apply for a no excuse Vote By Mail ballot.
Applications may be submitted in person, by mail, fax, or by email. Visit the Secretary of State website for an absentee ballot application.
All ballots must be returned to the City Clerk's Office by close of the polls on election day. Ballots delivered to the polling location cannot be accepted.
If you are in the military or an overseas U.S. citizen, you are still eligible to vote. To see how to apply for a ballot if one of these applies to you, visit the Secretary of State website for more information and applications.
What Does "U" or "Unenrolled" Mean?
When registering to vote, you have the option of choosing "unenrolled" under party enrollment or designation. This is commonly referred to as "independent" and means you are not enrolled in a party but are a registered voter. You will still be allowed to vote in a party primary if you are listed as unenrolled and will just have to notify the poll worker of which party's ballot you would like to use. You will not need to change back to "unenrolled" after choosing a party ballot at a primary. Unenrolled does not mean that you are not registered to vote.
Have You Moved?
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 City Clerk's Office or by making the change online.
For more information, you can also visit the Massachusetts Elections Division website. If you have questions about elections or voter eligibility, please call the City Clerk's Office at 978-388-8100. For election results and other news visit the City Clerk's Office.
