The
Board of Registrars of Voters is responsible for
registering voters, conducting federal, state
and local elections in the City, and compiling
the Annual Street List. The Board oversees the
election officers who work at the polling places
on Election Day conducting the election and counting
the votes. Each election officer has the general
responsibility of conducting elections in a lawful
and orderly manner, guaranteeing voters their
right to vote, and assuring that the election
results reflect the will of the electorate. The
Board appoints officers and tally clerks to conduct
vote recounts and oversees the process. Records
are maintained in the Office of the City Clerk.
Members
The Board of Registrars of Voters is a four member board. Three members are appointed by the Mayor for three year terms with the term of office beginning on May 1st of each year. The terms are staggered so that one term expires each year. The City Clerk is the fourth member of the Board by virtue of the office and also serves as 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 current members are:
Oliver C. Galante, Chair
Beulah M. Burnett
Edward E. Reil, Jr
William C. Campbell, CMC, Clerk
Hours
Hours are Monday through Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and
Friday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location
The office of the Board of Registrars of Voters is in the Office of the City Clerk at City Hall. The telephone number is (781) 932-4450.
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Voting
Voters may wish to visit the website of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division for additional information concerning voting and elections in Massachusetts at http://www.state.ma.us/sec/ele/eleidx.htm
Registering to Vote
Voters may register in person at the Office of the City Clerk during regular hours and also may register by mail. Mail-in voter registration cards can be obtained at many public buildings such as libraries, police stations and fire stations. Voters may also register at State agencies such as the Registry of Motor Vehicles. For further information it is recommended that you visit the web site of the Secretary of the Commonwealth at www.mass.gov.
Voting
The City of Woburn uses optical scanning machines for casting and counting votes. A voter presents herself at her polling place check-in table and states her name and address. The election official will repeat the voter’s name and address, cross her name from the voting list and hand a paper ballot to the voter. The voter proceeds to the marking tables where she will find a pen to mark her ballot. A voter has five minutes within which to mark the ballot and proceed to the check-out table and again states her name and address. The voter’s name is crossed off and the voter then puts her ballot into the black ballot box. The ballot can be placed in the ballot box face up or face down, top first or bottom first. A secrecy sleeve can be used to cover the ballot while moving about the polling place. They are available at the check-in table where the voter can also receive instructions on the voting process if needed. The voter may also bring a person of her choosing with her to the marking table.
Absentee Voting
If a voter will be 1. absent from the City during the hours the polls are open, 2. has a physical disability preventing her from going to the polling place, or 3. a religious belief that does not permit her to vote on the day of the election, or if the voter has entered a health care facility anytime after 12:00 noon on the fifth day before the election, or if the voter qualifies as a non-registered voter who is a. a Massachusetts citizen absent from the state, or b. an active member of the armed forces or merchant marines, their spouse or dependent, or c. a person confined in a correctional facility or jail except if by reason of felony conviction, then she can vote by absentee ballot. NO other reason is sufficient to vote by absentee ballot.
Application for an absentee ballot must be made in writing, signed by the voter and received by the City Clerk by no later than 12:00 noon the day before the election. The ballot will be mailed to the voter. In the alternative, the voter can go to the office of the City Clerk, fill out an application for an absentee ballot and vote in person at the Office of the City Clerk. NO ballot can be taken out of the Office of the City Clerk in hand. If a ballot is mailed to the voter, after voting the ballot can be returned by mail to the Office of the City Clerk or delivered in person in hand by the voter or a family member of the voter to the Office of the City Clerk. If delivered in hand to the Office of the City Clerk, the ballot must be given in hand to a member of the staff of the Office of the City Clerk and cannot be left with anyone other than the staff of the Office of the City Clerk. If a family member delivers the ballot to the Office of the City Clerk, they must sign their name and relationship on the outer envelope in which the ballot is delivered.
The Affidavit on the front of the inner envelope in which the absentee ballot is placed MUST be completely and correctly filled out by the voter or the ballot may be rejected by the Board of Registrars.
Illegal absentee voting, including making a false application, is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and up to five years in prison.
This information is provided as a convenience to voters and does not supercede or void any State law to the contrary.
Polling Locations
The City of Woburn is divided into seven wards with two precincts in each ward. Polling locations are established for each precinct. The polling locations are set following the decennial U.S. Census and remain fixed until the next decennial U.S. Census.
Polling locations must be convenient and accessible to all voters. All voting in Woburn is currently conducted in the various schools in our neighborhoods. Some locations have sufficient space to allow two precincts in the same building although they are separate and distinct. The current polling locations are as follows:
Ward 1, Precinct 1 – Joyce Middle School, Locust Street
Ward 1, Precinct 2 – Clapp Elementary School, Arlington Road at Hudson Street
Ward 2, Precinct 1 – Shamrock School, Green Street
Ward 2, Precinct 2 – Shamrock School, Green Street
Ward 3, Precinct 1 – Hurld Elementary School, Bedford Road
Ward 3, Precinct 2 – Hurld Elementary School, Bedford Road
Ward 4, Precinct 1 – Wyman Elementary School, Main Street at Eaton Avenue
Ward 4, Precinct 2 – Woburn Senior High School, 88 Montvale Avenue
Ward 5, Precinct 1 – Goodyear Elementary School, Orange Street
Ward 5, Precinct 2 – Goodyear Elementary School, Orange Street
Ward 6, Precinct 1 – Altavesta Elementary School, 990 Main Street
Ward 6, Precinct 2 – Altavesta Elementary School, 990 Main Street
Ward 7, Precinct 1 – Old Reeves Elementary School, Lexington Street
Ward 7, Precinct 2 – Old Reeves Elementary School, Lexington Street
If you want to know who your elected officials
are or your specific polling place you may call
the Office of the City Clerk at (781) 932-4450
or visit the Secretary of State web site at http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php
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Election 2003
Every odd-numbered year the City of Woburn elects its Mayor, City Council and School Committee. Each of the seven Ward Alderman and two Aldermen At Large are elected. Five out of the seven School Committee members are also elected. All terms of office are for two years with the exception of two candidates for school committee. The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes serve four year terms on the School Committee.
Candidates for Mayor must obtain 100 signatures from registered voters in the City, School Committee and Alderman At Large candidates must obtain 50 signatures from registered voters in the City and Ward Aldermen must obtain 10 signatures from voters in their Ward. Elections are non-partisan and therefore any registered voter can sign nomination papers for any candidate regardless of their party affiliation. The following is a calendar of important dates for the 2003 Municipal elections:
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2003 Municipal Election Calendar
May 1, 2003 at 9:00 a.m.
Nomination papers available for candidates. Nomination papers can only be furnished to candidate or individual authorized in writing by candidate to obtain papers on candidate’s behalf. Candidate shall file statement containing candidate’s name, address and office for which he/she will be a candidate before obtaining nomination papers. Statement available at Office of City Clerk.
August 28, 2003 at 5:00 p.m.
Last date and time to obtain nomination papers.
September 2, 2003 at 5:00 p.m.
Last date and time to file nomination papers with Board of Registrars for certification of signatures.
September 16, 2003 at 5:00 p.m.
Last date and time for Board of Registrars to file nomination papers with City Clerk. Last date and time for candidate to file Statement of Candidacy with City Clerk. Statement of Candidacy is affixed to nomination papers.
September 16, 2003 at 5:01 p.m.
Drawing by City Clerk for candidate’s position on preliminary ballot if sufficient number of candidates to warrant preliminary election. Drawing to be held in Office of City Clerk.
September 17, 2003 at 8:00 p.m.
Last date and time to register to vote in Preliminary Election.
October 6, 2003 at 12:00 noon
Last date and time to file application for absentee ballot for Preliminary Election.
Tuesday, October 7, 2003
Preliminary Election – Polls open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
October 15, 2003 at 8:00 p.m.
Last date and time to register to vote in Municipal Election.
November 3, 2003 at 12:00 noon
Last date and time to file application for absentee ballot for Municipal Election.
Tuesday, November 4, 2003
Municipal Election – Polls open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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Candidate and Committee Financial Reporting
Candidates for municipal office have certain organizational and financial reporting requirements. Details can be obtained by contacting the office of the City Clerk or the Office of Campaign and Political Finance website at
http://www.state.ma.us/ocpf/homepage_lead.htm
Note: If any of the links to State offices are not valid, go to the general website for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at www.mass.gov and search for the offices.
Information compiled by City Clerk William C. Campbell
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