Massachusetts State Senate elections, 2020

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2020 Massachusetts
Senate Elections
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GeneralNovember 3, 2020
PrimarySeptember 1, 2020
Past Election Results
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Elections for the office of Massachusetts State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for September 1, 2020. The local filing deadline was May 5, 2020, and the state filing deadline was June 2, 2020.[1]

Democrats expanded their existing supermajority in the 2020 elections. All 40 state Senate seats were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Democrats had a 36-4 majority. Democrats gained a net one seat in 2020, expanding their supermajority to 37-3.

The Massachusetts State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. All 40 seats in the Massachusetts State Senate were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.

Massachusetts' 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In Massachusetts, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto.

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Massachusetts modified its absentee/mail-in procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

  • Absentee/mail-in voting: Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility was extended to all qualified voters in the general election.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

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Party control

See also: Partisan composition of state senates and State government trifectas
Massachusetts State Senate
Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
     Democratic Party 36 37
     Republican Party 4 3
Total 40 40

Candidates

General election

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Primary election




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Incumbents who were not re-elected
See also: Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 10, 2020

Incumbents defeated in the general election

One incumbent lost in the Nov. 3 general election. That incumbents was:

Name Party Office
Dean Tran Ends.png Republican Worcester & Middlesex District

Incumbents defeated in primary elections

One incumbent lost in the Sept. 1 primaries. That incumbent was:

Name Party Office
James Welch Electiondot.png Democratic Hampden District

Retiring incumbents

For the first time within the preceding decade, all 40 state Senate incumbents filed for re-election in 2020.[2] The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.

Open Seats in Massachusetts State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020
Year Total seats Open seats Seats with incumbents running for re-election
2020 40 0 (0 percent) 40 (100 percent)
2018 40 4 (10 percent) 36 (90 percent)
2016 40 3 (8 percent) 37 (92 percent)
2014 40 4 (10 percent) 36 (90 percent)
2012 40 2 (5 percent) 38 (95 percent)
2010 40 8 (20 percent) 32 (80 percent)

Process to become a candidate

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Massachusetts

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Massachusetts General Laws, Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53

For party candidates

Recognized political party candidates seeking access to the primary election ballot must submit nomination papers. Nomination papers are provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Nomination papers must be signed by a certain number of registered voters. The number of required signatures varies according to the office being sought.[3][4]

Required signatures for nomination papers
Office Required signatures
Governor, Attorney General, United States Senator 10,000
Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, Auditor 5,000
United States Representative 2,000
State Senator 300
State Representative 150

A candidate must be an enrolled member of the party whose nomination he or she is seeking; with the exception of newly registered voters, the candidate must be enrolled throughout the 90-day period preceding the filing deadline. An individual cannot be a candidate for nomination by one party if he or she was enrolled in any other party during the one-year period preceding the filing deadline. A candidate must prove party affiliation by filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth a certificate of party enrollment signed or stamped by at least three local election officials of the city or town where the candidate is registered. At least one such certificate (which is included on the nomination papers discussed below) must be completed and filed by the filing deadline.[3][5]

Before filing nomination papers, the candidate must make sure that at least one of the certified nomination papers contains a written acceptance of nomination personally signed by either the candidate or his or her authorized attorney. Although the candidate does not have to sign the acceptance space on all nomination papers, the candidate should sign several certified papers to ensure that one of the papers ultimately filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth will include the written acceptance.[3][6]

For the nomination papers to be valid, a candidate for state-level office must also file a receipt from the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission indicating that he or she has filed a statement of financial interest (federal candidates are exempt from this requirement). The receipt must be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth by the filing deadline. Prior to the filing deadline, a state-level candidate must file a written statement with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance indicating whether the candidate agrees to limit campaign spending. A candidate who does not agree to limit spending may be required to file an additional statement of intended spending prior to the deadline for filing withdrawals of nomination.[3][6]

Nomination papers must be submitted to the registrars of the cities or towns in which signatures were collected for certification prior to final filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.[3][7]

For non-party candidates

Like party candidates, independents and other non-party candidates gain access to the general election ballot by filing nomination papers. A non-party candidate must file a certificate proving that he or she is a registered voter and is not enrolled in a recognized political party. This certificate is printed on each nomination paper, and at least one of these certificates must be signed and stamped by at least three local elections officials of the city or town where the candidate is registered.[3]

A non-party candidate may state a political designation in no more than three words. Signature requirements are the same as those that apply to party candidates.[3]

Required signatures for nomination papers
Office Required signatures
Governor, Attorney General, United States Senator 10,000
Secretary of the Commonwealth, Treasurer, Auditor 5,000
United States Representative 2,000
State Senator 300
State Representative 150

Before filing nomination papers, the candidate must make sure that at least one of the certified nomination papers contains a written acceptance of nomination personally signed by either the candidate or his or her authorized attorney. Although the candidate does not have to sign the acceptance space on all nomination papers, the candidate should sign several certified papers to ensure that one of the papers ultimately filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth will include the written acceptance.[3]

For the nomination papers to be valid, a candidate for state-level office must also file a receipt from the State Ethics Commission indicating that he or she has filed a statement of financial interest (federal candidates are exempt from this requirement). The receipt must be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth by the filing deadline. Prior to the filing deadline, a state-level candidate must file a written statement with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance indicating whether the candidate agrees to limit campaign spending. A candidate who does not agree to limit spending may be required to file an additional statement of intended spending prior to the deadline for filing withdrawals of nomination.[3][6]

Nomination papers must be submitted to the registrars of the cities or towns in which signatures were collected for certification prior to final filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.[3][7]

For write-in candidates

An individual is entitled to seek nomination or election by conducting a write-in campaign. No special forms (such as a declaration of intent) are required, but write-in candidates should familiarize themselves with the rules and guidelines that govern the casting of write-in votes. More information about write-in candidacies can be accessed here.[8]

Filing deadlines

Filing deadlines vary according to the type of candidate (i.e., party or non-party) and the office being sought. The table below summarizes the various filing deadlines established by statute.[9][5][10]

Filing deadlines
Type of candidate and office sought Deadline for certification with local officials Final filing deadline
Party and non-party candidates for the Massachusetts General Court 5:00 p.m. on the 28th day preceding the final filing deadline[7] 5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday in May in the year the election is to be held
Party candidates for federal and statewide office 5:00 p.m. on the 28th day preceding the final filing deadline[7] 5:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday in June in the year the election is to be held
Non-party candidates for federal and statewide office 5:00 p.m. on the 28th day preceding the final filing deadline[7] 5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday in August in the year the election is to be held

2020 ballot access requirements

The table below details filing requirements for Massachusetts State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Massachusetts State Senate Qualified party 300 N/A 6/2/2020 Source
Massachusetts State Senate Unaffiliated 300 N/A 8/25/2020 Source

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article LXXI of the Massachusetts Constitution states: Every representative, for one year at least immediately preceding his election, shall have been an inhabitant of the district for which he is chosen and shall cease to represent such district when he shall cease to be an inhabitant of the commonwealth.

Salaries and per diem

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[11]
SalaryPer diem
$73,655.01/yearNo per diem is paid.

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Massachusetts legislators assume office the first Wednesday in January after the election.[12]

Massachusetts political history

Trifectas

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.

Massachusetts Party Control: 1992-2024
Ten years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Governor R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D
Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Presidential politics in Massachusetts

2016 Presidential election results

U.S. presidential election, Massachusetts, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes Electoral votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngHillary Clinton/Tim Kaine 60% 1,995,196 11
     Republican Donald Trump/Mike Pence 32.8% 1,090,893 0
     Libertarian Gary Johnson/Bill Weld 4.2% 138,018 0
     Green Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka 1.4% 47,661 0
     - Write-in/other 1.6% 53,278 0
Total Votes 3,325,046 11
Election results via: Massachusetts Secretary of State

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Massachusetts utilizes a semi-closed primary system. An unaffiliated voter is allowed to vote in the primary election of his or her choice.[13][14]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In Massachusetts, most polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. However, municipalities may open their polls as early as 5:45 a.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[15]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Massachusetts, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of Massachusetts, and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day.[16]

The deadline for registration is 10 days prior to the election. A voter can register online, by mail, or in person at any registration office or the Registry of Motor Vehicles. A form of identification is required to register. The following are acceptable forms of identification:[16]

  • Valid driver's license
  • State-issued identification card
  • Current utility bill
  • Bank statement
  • Paystub
  • Government-issued check
  • Any other government document displaying the voter's name and address

Automatic registration

Massachusetts automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, division of medical assistance, health insurance connector authority, and other agencies that collect what state law defines as reliable citizenship information.[17]

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Massachusetts has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.[18]

Same-day registration

Massachusetts does not allow same-day voter registration.[18]

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Massachusetts, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.[16]

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Massachusetts does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, the penalty for an illegal registration is a "fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than five years or both."[19]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[20] As of November 2024, five states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Elections and Voting page, run by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.


Voter ID requirements

Massachusetts does not require voters to present identification (ID) while voting, in most cases.[21]

However, voters will be asked to show ID in the following circumstances:

“
  • You are voting for the first time in Massachusetts in a federal election;
  • You are an inactive voter;
  • You are casting a provisional or challenged ballot;
  • The poll worker has a reasonable suspicion that leads them to request identification.[21][22]
 ”

The following list of accepted ID was current as of August 2024:

  • A driver's license
  • A state ID card
  • A recent utility bill
  • A rent receipt or lease.
  • A copy of a voter registration affidavit
  • A letter from a school dormitory or housing office
  • Any other printed identification which contains your name and address

Click here for the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“ Acceptable identification must include your name and the address at which you are registered to vote. Examples of acceptable identification include: a driver's license, state-issued ID card, recent utility bill, rent receipt, lease, a copy of a voter registration affidavit, or any other printed identification which contains the voter's name and address.[22] ”

Early voting

Massachusetts permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

Any eligible voter has the option to vote by absentee/mail-in ballot in all elections.[23]


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ To appear on the ballot in Massachusetts, prospective candidates must submit nomination papers for certification to the registrars of the cities or towns in which signatures were collected and to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The local filing deadline must occur four weeks prior to the candidate's second filing deadline with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. In 2020, the local-level filing deadline was May 5 and the state-level filing deadline was June 2. Click here to learn more.
  2. ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "A Candidate's Guide to the 2014 State Election," revised January 2014
  4. ↑ Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 6," accessed March 18, 2014
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 48," accessed March 18, 2014
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 9," accessed March 18, 2014
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 46," accessed March 18, 2014
  8. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "How to Run for Office as a Write-in or Sticker Candidate," accessed March 18, 2014
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named macalendar
  10. ↑ Massachusetts General Laws, "Part I, Title VIII, Chapter 53, Section 10," accessed March 18, 2014
  11. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  12. ↑ Massachusetts Constitution, "Article LXXXII," accessed February 12, 2021
  13. ↑ NCSL, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 3, 2024
  14. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "How to Vote in a Primary," accessed October 3, 2024
  15. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "The Voting Process," accessed April 13, 2023
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Voter Registration Information," accessed April 13, 2023
  17. ↑ Governing, “Automatic Voter Registration Gains Bipartisan Momentum,” accessed April 13, 2023
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 26, 2024
  19. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Massachusetts Official Mail-in Voter Registration Form," accessed November 1, 2024
  20. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Identification Requirements," accessed April 13, 2023
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  23. ↑ Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, "Voting by Mail," accessed July 18, 2022


Current members of the Massachusetts State Senate
Senators
Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District
Paul Mark (D)
Bristol and Norfolk District
Cape and Islands District
Hampden District
Hampden and Hampshire District
Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester District
Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District
Middlesex and Norfolk District
Middlesex and Suffolk District
Middlesex and Worcester District
Norfolk and Middlesex District
Norfolk and Plymouth District
Norfolk and Suffolk District
Norfolk, Plymouth, and Bristol District
Norfolk, Worcester, and Middlesex District
Plymouth and Barnstable District
Suffolk and Middlesex District
Worcester and Hampden District
Worcester and Hampshire District
Worcester and Middlesex District
1st Bristol and Plymouth District
1st Essex District
1st Essex and Middlesex District
1st Middlesex District
1st Plymouth and Norfolk District
1st Suffolk District
1st Worcester District
2nd Bristol and Plymouth District
2nd Essex District
2nd Essex and Middlesex District
2nd Middlesex District
2nd Plymouth and Norfolk District
2nd Suffolk District
2nd Worcester District
3rd Bristol and Plymouth District
3rd Essex District
3rd Middlesex District
3rd Suffolk District
4th Middlesex District
5th Middlesex District
Democratic Party (36)
Republican Party (4)


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