Program Description

This budget covers the cost for elections and town meetings with most functions governed by the Mass General Laws, including maintaining the Voter Registration Information System and processing state and local ballot petitions. All newspaper publishing, workers for the elections and town meetings, annual census and yearly street listing compilation are paid from this budget. In FY 2021, there will be two elections: the November 3, 2020 State Election and the May 11, 2021 Annual Town Election. One Annual/Special Town Meeting has been budgeted for April 2021.

Budget Statement

The number of elections changes each fiscal year and this budget increases or decreases based on the number of scheduled elections. Only one Town Meeting is budgeted, in April, for six nights and to date this has also covered the expense of a special fall Town Meeting without the need to budget specifically for that event.

Major Accomplishments for 2020

• Effectively conducted two elections: one Special Town Election in February, one Annual Town Election in June;
• Submitted all bylaw amendments approved at the April Annual and June Special Town Meetings to the Attorney General’s Office for approval in a timely manner;
• Certified votes of the April Annual Town Meeting and June Special Town Meeting for the legislature, administration, various Town departments and State agencies as needed and appropriate;
• Effective oversight of the annual street listing, resulting in accurate and up-to-date voter information.

FY 2022 Objectives

• Process and completion of State Election on November 3, 2020 and May 11, 2021 Annual Town Election without incident;
• Certify votes of Town Meeting and submit bylaw articles to the Attorney General’s Office for approval in a timely manner, and also to submit other Town Meeting votes to appropriate entities in a similar manner;
• In conjunction with Town Manager’s Office, enhance communication and awareness of Town Meeting warrant articles.
• Conduct 2021 annual listing of residents/voters and daily maintenance of the State’s Central Voter Registry;
• Certify nomination papers, petition forms, residency and voter certificates.

Performance / Workload Indicators