Massachusetts elections, 2012

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The state of Massachusetts held elections in 2012. Below are the dates of note:

• Signature filing deadline: June 5, 2012 & July 4, 2012 (Measures only)
• Primary date: September 6, 2012
• General election date: November 6, 2012

On the 2012 ballot			Click here for all November 6, 2012 Election Results
U.S. Senate (1 seat)	a	Preview Article
U.S. House (9 seats)	a
State Executives	d	N/A
State Senate (40 seats)	a	Preview Article
State House (160 seats)	a
Ballot measures (3 measures)	a	Preview Article Pending

2012 Elections

Note: Election information listed on this page does not pertain to 2012 presidential elections. For more about Ballotpedia's areas of coverage, click here.
For election results in the 50 states, see our November 6, 2012 election results page

Elections by type

• U.S. Senate
• U.S. House
• State Senate
• State House
• Ballot measures
• Recalls

See also: United States Senate elections in Massachusetts, 2012

U.S. Senate, Massachusetts, General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Elizabeth Warren	53.3%	1,696,346
	Republican	Scott Brown Incumbent	45.8%	1,458,048
	N/A	All Others	0.1%	2,159
	N/A	Blank Votes	0.9%	27,643
Total Votes				3,184,196
Source: Massachusetts Secretary of State "Return of Votes"

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts, 2012

Massachusetts lost a U.S. House seat from redistricting.

Members of the U.S. House from Massachusetts -- Partisan Breakdown
Party		As of November 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	10	9
	Republican Party	0	0
Total		10	9

See also: Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2012

Heading into the election, Democrats maintained partisan control in the state senate.

Massachusetts State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	35	36
	Republican Party	4	4
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		40	40

See also: Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2012

Heading into the election, Democrats maintained partisan control in the state house.

Massachusetts House of Representatives
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	127	131
	Republican Party	33	29
Total		160	160

See also: Massachusetts 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
IndISS	Question 1	Business	Deals with vehicle owner and business protections in the state.	a
IndISS	Question 2	Assisted death	Would establish an "Act Relative to Death with Dignity".	d
IndISS	Question 3	Marijuana	Would allow for the use of medical marijuana in the state.	a

See also: Political recall efforts and Recall campaigns in Massachusetts

Bridgewater

In Bridgewater, Massachusetts, a long-delayed recall election was held to determine whether town councilors Mike Demos and Peter Riordan can keep their seats. The Bridgewater recall was originally initiated in October 2011, but conflicting interpretations of the town's charter resulted in a series of legal challenges that delayed the recall process. Although sufficient signatures were certified in February 2012, the town refused to schedule a recall election. In August 2012, Judge Robert C. Cosgrove ruled that the town was required to schedule a recall election.

Massachusetts recall action in 2012

• The Bridgewater recall was the second recall election in Massachusetts this year. On February 6, two members of the Templeton Board of Selectmen, Julie Farrell and Robert Mitchell, were successfully recalled from office.

• A recall effort against Will Flanagan, mayor of Fall River, came to a halt in February after the city repeatedly rejected the recall affidavit.

• In August, a recall effort against Donald Cykowski, a city councilman from Easthampton, narrowly missed making the ballot. Recall organizers were able to gather 2,218 signatures, which was 17 signatures shy of forcing a recall election.

Eligibility to Vote

Primary election

See also: Voting in the 2012 primary elections

Massachusetts is one of 21 states to use a strictly closed primary system. Voters were required to register to vote in the primary by August 17, 2012, which was 20 days before the primary took place. Registered Democrats and Republicans can only vote for their own party in the primary, but independent voters may decide which party they would like to vote for. (Information about registering to vote)

General election

See also: Voting in the 2012 general elections

The deadline to register to vote is 20 days prior to the election day, which in 2012 was October 17.

• Voter ID info
• Residency requirements: Resident
• Same-day registration: None

Voting absentee

See also: Absentee Voting

Eligibility

You are eligible to vote absentee in an election if you cannot make it to the polls on election day for one of the following reasons:

• you will be absent from your city or town on election day, and/or
• you have a physical disability that prevents your voting at the polling place, and/or
• you cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs

Deadlines

To vote absentee a request must be received by noon on the day before the election. The ballot must then be returned by 8pm on election day.

Military and overseas voting

For full details, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program here.

Voting early

See also: Early voting

Massachusetts is one of 8 states which allow early voting but require an excuse to vote early. Early voting begins as soon as absentee ballots become available.

To vote early you need to provide an excuse for why you will be unable to vote at the polls during normal voting hours. The following are valid reasons:

• you will be away from your city or town on election day
• you have a disability that prevents you from voting at the polls
• you cannot vote on election day due to religious beliefs

See also

• Statewide elections, 2012
• 2012 election dates
• Election result resources
• Voter guides
• State Blue Books
• State Poll Opening and Closing Times (2012)
• Voting in Massachusetts
• Absentee voting
• Early voting