You may vote by absentee ballot if you:
 

• will be absent from town on election day, and/or

• have a physical disability that prevents your voting at the polling place, and/or

• cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs.

You may vote in person at the Town Clerk’s Office Monday through Friday 8:30AM to 4:00PM.  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 your name and address as you are registered, address where you wish the absentee ballot sent, in a primary if you are registered "unenrolled", the party ballot you want, date and your signature. A family member of any voter may apply for an absentee ballot on behalf of such voter.   The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot is noon of the day before the election.  Applications should be filed as early as possible as the ballot must be mailed out.  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

• www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howabs.htm 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

Scott P. Brown, State Senator, represents all precincts

TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE

A VOTER'S GUIDE 

A voter must be: 

       -     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.

WHERE TO REGISTER

Voter registration by mail is permitted.  Mail-in forms are available at the Wayland Post Office, Wayland Public Library, Wayland Housing Authority, Wayland High School, Wayland Town Building Lobby, and the Town Clerk's Office.

Voters may 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 last day to register for a special town meeting is 10 days before the meeting.  The Town Clerk's Office will only remain open until 8 P.M. 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.  Precincts 2 and 3 vote at the Wayland Middle School.   Please click here to locate your correct precinct.  On election days the polls are open from 7:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.  

WHEN TO VOTE

The Annual Town Election and the Annual Town Meeting are 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 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 April 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.

 Copyright © 2002 Town of Wayland, MA All rights reserved.