Massachusetts Social Workers Vote 2024

Updated October 2024

Our right to vote is so important. Social workers should be informed of who to vote for as these elected officials make key decisions on issues impacting the profession, including funding for social work related programs. Social workers are also in a unique position to help their clients register to vote and be informed about upcoming elections. 

It also happens to be in our NASW Code of Ethics:

The NASW Code of Ethics standard 6.02: Public Participation states: 

Social workers should facilitate informed participation by the public in shaping social policies and institutions.

Standard 6.04: Social and Political Action states: 

Social workers should promote policies and practices that demonstrate respect for difference, support the expansion of cultural knowledge and resources, advocate for programs and institutions that demonstrate cultural competence, and promote policies that safeguard the rights and confirm equity and social justice for all people. 

Make Your Plan to Vote in the 2024 General Election!

The 2024 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. The in-Person Early Voting Period is October 17-November 1st. 

You can vote:

• On Election Day, at your polling place; or

• During the early voting period, at an early voting site; or

• By mail, from your own home.

No excuse is required to vote early or by mail.

Dates and Deadlines

Here are voter dates and deadlines for the 2024 general election in Massachusetts:

• Available Now!  No Excuse early vote by mail, absentee ballot* Vote by Mail Application.

• Saturday, October 26 (5:00 pm) Voter registration deadline for General Election

• Thursday, October 17th -Friday, November 1st  In-person Early voting Period (check your local town clerk’s office for hours and locations) Find your local election office HERE. 

• Tuesday, October 29th (5:00 pm) Absentee request deadline

• Tuesday, November 5th (7:00 am – 8:00 pm) Election Day – General Election   

• Tuesday, November 8th  deadline to receive absentee ballots in the domestic mail.  

Find important dates for the 2024 general election HERE. 

*Voter registration and absentee voting deadlines are different for military and overseas citizen voters.

Important Tips for Voters

• Need to register or update your registration? See the MA Secretary of State website for the Online Voter Application.

• Check your registration: Voters can check to make sure their registration information is accurate and up to date using the Voter Search tool. There, you can also find your polling place, absentee ballot information, and more.
• Review the Ballot Questions before voting.  You can find information about all 6 ballot questions in the 2024 Voters Book.  

• Don’t forget your photo ID: Under some circumstances, you may be asked for identification.  You may cast a provisional ballot without an ID and you can return with your ID before the close of voting. Voter Identification Requirements.  

You may need to show identification when you check-in at your polling place if:

• You are voting for the first time in Massachusetts

• You’re on the inactive voter list

• You're casting a provisional or challenged ballot

• The poll worker has a practical and legal reason to ask for identification

• Three ways to vote: Follow the links below to learn about the voting methods available to voters.

1. Vote Early in Person
2. Track your ballot

3. Vote By Mail

Source:https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/elections-and-voting.htm

General Voting Resources

• Check out the NASW Student Webinar: Impacting the 2022 Election: How Social Work Students Can Empower Voters. Click here to watch it! 

• Check out the NASW Facebook Live Event from September 29, 2022: The Power of the Vote

• Massachusetts Voters’ Bill of Rights

• When We All Vote - check your registration! 

• Free Resources from Vot-ER: Vot-ER badges and posters are great resources for social workers, professors, and students to use to invite their clients/community members/colleagues/peers to register to vote and participate in the election. These tools primarily serve to register voters easily and quickly. As the voter registration deadline approaches in October, the tools will redirect individuals to nonpartisan voter guides to learn more about what's on the ballot.

• VOTE411: Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF), VOTE411.org is a "one-stop-shop" for election related information. It provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information.

• For resources on voting with a disability, visit Voters with Disabilities

NASW and NASW-MA PACE Endorsements

NASW-MA's Political Action for Candidate Election Committee (MA-PACE) makes endorsements of candidates running for state elections. These candidates have been vetted by the committee and have been selected because of their support for the social work profession. Social workers may wish to get involved in campaign efforts with these candidates running for office. Click here for MA-PACE's endorsements for 2022!  Interested in joining NASW-MA PACE to advance Social Work values at the statehouse?  Email Beth Morrison at bmorrison.naswma@socialworkers.org. 

Just as this committee endorses Massachusetts candidates, NASW has a PACE Committee that makes endorsements of candidates at the Federal level. Click here to check out who they have endorsed.

Voting is Social Work 

NASW-MA supports voter engagement work through Voting is Social Work! Here are some tips to help you get involved: 

1. REGISTER and “pledge to participate” at www.votingissocialwork.org. 

2. LEARN about the many resources that Voting is Social Work offers. To access online resources, click Here

3. JOIN their Facebook Group, the National Social Worker Voter Mobilization Group for ideas and frequent updates on Voting is Social Work activities.