UPCOMING 2012 ELECTION INFORMATION
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2012 - PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
Last day to register to vote for Presidential Primary is Wednesday, February 15, 2012
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012 - ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION
Last day to reister to vote for Annual Town Election is Wednesday, March 14, 2012
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 - STATE PRIMARY
Last day to register to vote for State Primary is August 17, 2012
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012 - STATE (PRESIDENTIAL) ELECTION
Last day to register to vote for State (Presidential) Election is Wednesday, October 17, 2012
The Town Clerk's Office will be open from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM for voter registration
on each of the above last days of registration
ABSENTEE BALLOT INFORMATION
You may vote by absentee ballot if you are a registered voter who will be unable to vote at the polls on election day due to:
- absence from town during normal polling hours; or
- physical disability preventing you from going to the polling place; or
- religious belief.
You may vote in person at the Town Clerk’s Office during normal business hours. Voters who wish to vote ahead of time, but are unable to come to the Clerk’s office, may mail an absentee ballot application or fax a signed letter requesting an absentee ballot followed up with the hard copy of the letter. Each request must include the date, your name and address as you are registered to vote, address where you wish the absentee ballot sent, in a primary if you are registered "unenrolled", the party ballot you choose to vote, and your signature. A family member of any voter may apply for an absentee ballot on behalf of such voter by completing an absentee ballot application by a family member. The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot is noon of the day before the election. In order to allow
sufficient time for mailing out and mailing back, applications should be filed as early as possible, as the law requires that the ballot must be mailed to the voter. An absentee voter or a family member of the voter may return the absentee ballot in person to the Office of the Town Clerk or mail it back but it must arrive before the close of polls on election day.
Please contact the Town Clerk’s Office if you have any questions regarding the above or if you would like a voter card or absentee ballot application mailed to you. You may also log onto the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website to obtain a voter card (http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elestu/stuidx.htm) or click here to request an application for an absentee ballot.
REPRESENTING WAYLAND: |
Nicola S. Tsongas, U. S. Congresswoman, represents precincts 1-3-4 |
Edward J. Markey, U. S. Congressman, represents precinct 2 |
Thomas P. Conroy, State Representative, represents all precincts |
Richard J. Ross, State Senator, represents all precincts
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A NEW VOTER'S GUIDE
To obtain a Massachusetts Official Mail-In Voter Registration Form,
A voter must:
- Be a U. S. Citizen; and
- Be a Massachusetts resident; and
- Be at least 18 years old on or before the next election.
MOTOR-VOTER LAW
On January 2, 1995, the National Voter Registration Act, and the state law implementing the federal act, Chapter 475 of the Acts of 1994 took effect in Massachusetts. Together, these laws made many changes in the election laws, and greatly expanded the opportunity to register to vote. As a result, the number of people registering to vote has increased greatly.
In an effort to implement these new laws, the Secretary of State established a computerized central voter registry that connects the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the Secretary of State, and all cities and towns in Massachusetts. Information regarding voter registration is transmitted electronically from the Registry of Motor Vehicles to all cities and towns.
HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT (HAVA)
Pursuant to a new federal law, the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), you must provide a copy of your identification at the time you are voting whether you vote by absentee ballot or in person at the polls if you are voting for the first time in a federal election since registering by mail in 2003 and 2004. Acceptable identification includes a driver's license, a current and valid photo identification (such as those issued by the Registry and other agencies), current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other government document showing your name and address.
WHERE TO REGISTER
Voter registration by mail is permitted. Mail-in forms are available at the Wayland Public Library, Wayland High School,
Wayland Town Building Lobby, and the Town Clerk's Office.
Voters may also register to vote at the Registry of Motor Vehicles and at certain state agencies - Welfare, WIC, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Department of Mental Health, Department of Mental Retardation, Military Recruitment offices, the Commission for the Blind, the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and the Secretary of State's Office.
WHEN TO REGISTER
The last day to register to vote for ALL ELECTIONS is 20 days before the election. The Town Clerk's Office will remain open
until 8 PM on the last day to register to vote.
WHERE TO VOTE
Precincts 1 and 4 vote at the Wayland Town Building Gymnasium. Precincts 2 and 3 vote at the Wayland Middle School Gymnasium. If you are unsure of your voting precinct, see Precincts below.
PRECINCTS
Precincts 1 and 4 vote at the Wayland Town Building Gymnasium. Precincts 2 and 3 vote at the Wayland Middle School Gymnasium. Please click here to locate your correct precinct. On election days the polls are open from 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
WHEN TO VOTE
The Annual Town Election and the Annual Town Meeting are usually held on a day in April ordered by the Board of Selectmen. The election of town officers and the determination of all matters placed on the official ballot at such election shall take place within seven days, but no less than two days, before the annual town meeting.
State primaries are held on the seventh Tuesday prior to the state election in even- numbered years.
State elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years every two years.
The Presidential Primary is held on a Tuesday in the month of March prior to the general election in even-numbered years every four years.
The general election is held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even- numbered years every four years.
VOTING IN A PRIMARY
"Unenrolled" voters who vote in any primary REMAIN UNENROLLED. The voter does not become enrolled in the political party of the ballot chosen.
PERMANENTLY DISABLED VOTERS
If such a voter submits a note from a registered physician indicating that he/she is disabled permanently, the Town Clerk will automatically send an application for an absentee ballot each year for all elections during the year.
RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
Any person who is a Wayland resident and a registered voter may obtain nomination papers for the Annual Town Election ballot from the Town Clerk's Office. Nomination papers are available each January. Candidates running for town wide office require the signatures of 50 voters.
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