Registrar of Voters

Overview

The Board of Registrars of Voters is a four-member board. Three members are appointed by the Board of Selectmen for three-year terms with the term of office beginning on July 1st of each year. The terms are staggered so that one term expires each year. The town clerk is the fourth member of the board by virtue of the office and also serves as the clerk of the Board of Registrars of Voters. No more than two members of the board can be of the same political party. The board selects the chair from among its members.

The responsibilities of the Board of Registrars of Voters include:

• Authorize Absentee and Early Voter ballot applications
• Certify nomination papers and petitions
• Develop local listings of residents ("Street List")
• Hold hearings when a person's residency or eligibility to vote is questioned
• Oversee election recounts and audits
• Oversee the registration of voters
• Review and vote ballots received after the close of polls, when allowed by law

As is the custom in most towns in Massachusetts, the Board has delegated the day-to-day administration of these tasks to the town clerk.