LYNN — The city is urging residents to complete and return the 2026 census form, also known as the annual city street listing. Households received the census in mid-March with a return deadline of June 1.
Any resident who has not responded as of June 1 will receive a reminder postcard in the mail with a form to fill out and send back.
While the federal government conducts a census every 10 years, the state of Massachusetts requires municipalities to collect one annually.
City Clerk James Lamanna said any voter not returning the census will have their voting status changed to “inactive,” which results in being required to produce a photo ID or utility bill, with a name matching the voter list, in order to vote. Voters whose status remains inactive for three years are dropped from the rolls.
Lamanna said that as of last week, approximately 5,000 of the city’s 60,000 registered voters had not returned the census, while approximately 40,000 residents overall – more than one-third of the population – had not responded.
This will be the first time the city does the follow-up mailing, giving residents a final opportunity to comply with the census requirement, according to Lamanna.
“It’s important that we get an accurate voter list, which will tell us what the actual turnout is on election day,” Lamanna said, noting that the city’s official population also affects state and federal funding for various programs and projects. “We want to make it as convenient as possible for people to vote.”
Massachusetts is the only state in the country requiring an annual census, Lamanna said.
Mayor Jared Nicholson said, “We strongly encourage all residents to return the census if they have not already done so.
“The census is a foundational pillar of civic duty, and we want to ensure that no one has any unnecessary problems voting or loses the opportunity to vote by failing to comply with this requirement,” he said.
