Voter Registration, Vote by Mail, and Absentee Ballots

Voter Registration

On-line voter registration is now available at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/ for residents with a valid Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles ID. Even if you don't have a valid RMV ID, you can still use the on-line system to create an application that can be printed, signed and mailed in.

Residents may also register in-person at the Town Clerk's Office weekday during normal business hours.

Residents may also register to vote at any Registry of Motor Vehicles Office.If you recently had any business with the Registry of Motor Vehicles, either online or in person, and you received an acknowledgment notice from the Town Clerk's Office, that is because your recent transaction had an effect on your voter registration. 

A voter must meet the following qualification to register to vote in Pembroke:

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Must be a Pembroke Resident
  • Must be at least 18 years old on or before the next election

Vote By Mail

Following the passage of the VOTES act of 2022, all registered voters may request a ballot by mail, without reason, for all elections. Requests for a ballot to be mailed can be made online or by completing an application to be submitted to the Town Clerk's Office. Applications can be submitted by mail, email, or fax, but they must include a signature that can be compared to your hand-written signature. Electronic signatures, scanned applications, and photos of applications are acceptable. Typed signatures on applications cannot be accepted, unless you are a voter who requires accommodations due to physical disability. Any mail-in ballot must be requested in writing by 5 p.m. on the 5th business day before the election. Your application can only be accepted if it has reached your local election office by the deadline. Apply as early as possible, especially if your ballot will need to be mailed out of town. The U.S. Postal Service recommends allowing up to 7 days for mail delivery. To ensure you receive your ballot with enough time to mail it back, you should apply 2-3 weeks before Election Day. Completed ballots ready to be returned can be mailed, dropped at the ballot drop box located outside of Town Hall (100 Center Street, Pembroke MA 02359) or walked into the Town Clerk's Office during regular business hours.

Absentee Ballots

While early Vote by Mail ballots are more common, there are special circumstances where you may need to use the Absentee Ballot application to apply for an absentee ballot instead. A registered voter may obtain an absentee ballot application at the Town Clerk's Office or online. Upon receipt of the completed application, a ballot will be issued to the registered voter if he or she appears in person during normal business hours, or it will be mailed. 

Absentee ballots may only be applied for if the voter:

  • Will be absent from Pembroke during the hours the polls are open;
  • Has a physical disability
  • Religious beliefs prevent the voter from coming to the polls on Election Day

A "family member" may also request an absentee ballot for another "family member". This "family member" must be a spouse or person residing in the same household, in-laws, father, mother, sister or brother of the whole or half blood, son, daughter, adopting parent or adopting child, stepparents or stepchild, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, grandparent or grandchild.

Permanently disable voters may obtain a note from their physician which should then be mailed to the Town Clerk/ Board of Registrars to permanently request an absentee ballot application. Twenty eight days before each election, an application for an absentee ballot will be automatically mailed to the disabled voter. If the permanently disabled voter fills out the application and requests "all ballots for that calendar year" be mailed to him/her, the application will not need to be mailed for each subsequent election that calendar year; a ballot will be mailed automatically. A new absentee ballot application would need to be filled out the following calendar year, though.

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) states that any Service member, eligible family member or overseas citizen may be eligible to vote absentee. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) encourages military Service members, their eligible family members and overseas citizens to submit a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) every January to ensure they can participate in upcoming Federal elections. The FPCA (SF-76) allows you to apply to register to vote, request an absentee ballot and/ or update your contact information with your local election office, The Pembroke Town Clerk's Office. FVAP.gov offers an online assistant to walk you through completion of the form, and provides a blank fillable PDF. Hard copies of the form are also available at embassies and consulates, and military bases around the world.

Any mail-in ballot must be requested in writing by 5 p.m. on the 5th business day before the election. Your application can only be accepted if it has reached your local election office by the deadline. 

Apply as early as possible, especially if your ballot will need to be mailed out of town. The U.S. Postal Service recommends allowing up to 7 days for mail delivery. To ensure you receive your ballot with enough time to mail it back, you should apply 2-3 weeks before Election Day. Completed ballots ready to be returned can be mailed, dropped at the ballot drop box located outside of Town Hall (100 Center Street, Pembroke MA 02359) or walked into the Town Clerk's Office during regular business hours.

Note: All absentee ballots requested for a family member must be mailed to the voter. They may not be hand carried to the voter, but they may be hand carried back to the Town Clerk's Office by a family member.

No witnesses are needed, unless the voter is assisted. If assisted, the person doing the assisting signs the bottom of the ballot and gives the reason why. The voter returns the ballot by mail or in person to the Town Clerk.