In Massachusetts, absentee voting is permitted: if you will be away from your city or town on Election Day during polling hours; if your religious beliefs prevent you from voting at the polls on Election Day; or if you are disabled and cannot vote at the polls on Election Day.

To vote by absentee ballot, you must be registered voter.  You can download the absentee ballot application by clicking here.  Requests for absentee ballots may be made for one election or for all elections in a calendar year.

The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot is noon on the day before an election.  If you plan to vote by mail, your application must be submitted with enough time for the absentee ballot to get to you and for you to return in person or by mail to the local election office before the close of the polls (8:00 PM) on Election Day.

You can also vote by absentee ballot in person at the Town Clerk’s office between now and Election Day.  You fill out the absentee ballot application there and vote at the same time.

There are special absentee ballot voting procedures for US Military Personnel and for US Citizens abroad.  The Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) is the primary form for requesting an absentee ballot.  The local election official must receive your FPCA not later than noon the day before the election.  You can complete the Federal Post Card Application online at www.fvap.gov.  If you reside outside the U.S., for Federal elections your absentee ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive at the local election office not later than 10 days after the election.

For additional information about absentee voting and other voting procedures, check out the League of Women Voters of Brookline website, www.vote2012info.com.