WHAT IS AN INACTIVE VOTER?
An inactive voter is a voter who failed to answer the census. Every summer, registered voters who failed to respond to either the first or second census mailing are made inactive. Voters who are made inactive are immediately sent confirmation cards, which the voter can send back to be reinstated as active or to report an address change. Voters can also be reinstated to the active voting list by either voting in an election or signing a petition or nomination paper. When inactive voters arrive at the polling place, they will be asked to show identification and will need to fill out an Affirmation of Current and Continuous Residence. After the election, they will be reinstated to the active voting list.

If a voter fails to respond to the annual census and does not vote in the next two biennial state elections, the voter will be removed from the voter registration rolls. M.G.L.Ch. 51 §37.

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1. WHAT IS THE ANNUAL TOWN CENSUS?
2. IS THE INFORMATION COLLECTED PUBLIC INFORMATION?
3. WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY CENSUS FORM?
4. WHAT IF I LIVE IN A MULTI-UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING?
5. WHY IS THE CENSUS IMPORTANT?
6. WHAT IS AN INACTIVE VOTER?
7. CAN I TELL WHETHER I AM REGISTERED TO VOTE FROM MY CENSUS FORM?
8. DOES TURNING IN MY CENSUS FORM REGISTER ME TO VOTE?
9. CAN I UPDATE MY NAME, PARTY OR ADDRESS WITH MY CENSUS FORM?
10. WHAT IF I LOST MY CENSUS FORM OR DIDN'T RECEIVE ONE?