Senate Approves September 1, 2026 Primary Election Date
Bill Sets Optimal Date for Voter Participation
(BOSTON—09/18/2025) The Senate on Thursday enacted legislation setting next year’s state primary election date on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
The Legislature’s action is a standard step in the lead up to an election year to ensure the primary date complies with state and federal requirements. The legislation, H.4531, ensures that local clerks are given necessary time to send and process vote-by-mail ballots for Massachusetts residents, and gives election officials the ability to meet a required federal timeline for sending ballots to military service members and citizens overseas.
“It is always important to be proactive in setting the primary election to ensure we select a date that encourages voter participation,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I am glad that we settled the date a year in advance, giving voters ample time for public awareness and giving our hardworking election administrators ample time to prepare.”
“Given the calendar, holidays, requirements that we allow time for overseas ballots, including for members of the military, and to allow time for the printing of ballots, setting a date can sometimes be difficult. This legislation will put the Commonwealth in position to meet these obligations and run another smooth, safe, and secure primary election on September 1, 2026,” said Senator John F. Keenan (D-Quincy), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Election Laws. “Now, more than ever, our democratic process must remain steadfast in the face of unprecedented federal uncertainty.”
Standard deadlines associated with the election calendar are also set by the bill, such as a September 3, 2026 due date for recount petitions and a September 19, 2026 deadline for military and overseas voters to apply for absentee ballots for the general election. Next year’s general election is set by state law on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth last month recommended a September 1, 2026 primary date to the Governor, following which the Governor included the recommendation in a message to the General Court.
The legislation was passed by the Senate a day after it was approved in the House of Representatives. Both branches of the Legislature enacted the bill on Thursday to send it to the Governor for her signature.
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