Voting for a Change...of Color

We hear from Franklin Town Clerk, Nancy Danello, that some changes are coming to elections!

In fact, all Massachusetts voters will notice a colorful change when they cast ballots in this year's state primary elections. Beginning with the 2026 election cycle, official party ballots will be printed on new, standardized colors intended to make them easier for voters and election workers to identify.

Under the new system, Democratic ballots will be printed in shades of blue, while Republican ballots will appear in shades of red. Ballots for voters who are not enrolled in a political party but choose to participate in a party primary will use the same color as the party ballot they request. Local election officials say the change is designed to simplify ballot distribution at polling places and reduce the chance that voters receive the wrong ballot.

The new color scheme also applies to early voting and absentee ballots for primary elections, creating greater consistency regardless of how a voter chooses to cast a ballot. General election ballots, in which all qualified candidates appear on a single ballot, are not affected by the change.

Election administrators believe the standardized colors will make polling place operations more efficient, particularly in busy precincts, while providing voters with an immediate visual cue that they have received the correct ballot. The change is expected to be especially helpful during high-turnout elections, when multiple ballot styles may be in use.

State election officials encourage voters to review their registration status before the September primary and remember that Massachusetts' many unenrolled voters may continue to choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot when voting in a primary election.