As spring arrives in Reading, so does an important opportunity to shape our community’s future. On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, we will vote in the Annual Town Election at the Reading Memorial High School Field House (62 Oakland Road), with polls open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.🏫
Local elections decide key issues that affect us every day—our schools, roads, budget priorities, Select Board leadership, School Committee, Town Meeting Members, and more. Your vote is your voice in these decisions, and every ballot counts in our close-knit town.🗣️
For College Students & Those Away From Home — ACT NOW!
Many Reading families have students attending college out of state or elsewhere in Massachusetts. If you’re registered to vote in Reading (your permanent/home address), you can—and should—still participate fully! You don’t need to return home on Election Day. Here are the convenient options designed to make voting easy:
📬 Vote by Mail (Highly Recommended for Students Away at School): Request a Vote by Mail ballot now! The deadline to request one to be mailed to you is 5:00 PM on Monday, March 31, 2026, but don’t wait — build-in time for ballot to be mailed to you AND mailed back to Town Hall. Eliminate risk of snail mail delay by requesting NOW!🐌
- Apply for a mail-in ballot online through the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s website (sec.state.ma.us).
- Or download the mail-in ballot application from the Town of Reading website (here at readingma.gov) and submit the application to the Town Clerk.
- Once you receive your ballot (via mail), fill it out as soon as possible, and return it by mail (postmarked by Election Day) or drop it off in person at Town Hall or in their on-site drop box. This is the simplest way for students to vote without traveling—many complete it in their dorm and mail it back early.
🗳️Early In-Person Voting: No excuses needed! Reading has opted in to in-person early voting for this election.
- Dates: Saturday, March 28 through Thursday, April 2, 2026 (excluding Sunday).
- Location: Reading Town Hall.
- Hours include:
Saturday – March 28 – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Monday – March 30 – 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Tuesday – March 31 – 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM
Wednesday – April 1 – 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Thursday – April 2 – 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
➡️Last Day to Register to Vote: 5:00 PM on Friday, March 28, 2026 (if you’re not yet registered or need to update your info). 🗎 Especially if you’re voting by mail, confirm you’re registered ASAP!
For the latest details, candidate information, or to check your registration status, visit:
- Reading Election Info: https://www.readingma.gov/254/Elections
- Check your voter registration status at this link: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx
Please, share this with any college students or family members in your household — forward it, text it, or print a copy. Let’s ensure every eligible Reading voter has their say on April 7, 2026!
🫵Thank you for being an engaged citizen. Your vote matters!
Key Dates: Town Election & Voter Registration
Town Election – April 7, 2026
7:00 AM to 8:00 PM – Reading Memorial High School Field House
Town Election Information
- Deadline to request a vote by mail ballot to be mailed is by 5:00 PM on March 31st.
- Deadline to request an absentee ballot to be mailed is by 5:00 PM on March 31st.
- Deadline to request an absentee ballot in person is by 12:00 PM on April 6th.
- Last day to Register to Vote – by 5:00 PM on March 28th.
- Early In-Person Voting will be March 28th to April 2nd at Reading Town Hall (see of above for hours each day)
WORTH REPEATING: READING VOTES ON FACEBOOK!
Easy Access
Your Reading Votes emails and online webpage aren’t going anywhere — they’re still a great resource for Reading’s Common Sense deep dives, curated advice, and actionable ideas. To make things even more broadly accessible, we’ve launched a brand new Facebook page for easy access to all going forward.
https://facebook.com/ReadingMAVotes
What You Can Do
Take 10 seconds to head over, Like, and Follow so you don’t miss out!
Until next time . . .