It's Town Election season: when your town votes, what seats are open and how to register
The start of summer is around the corner, but before the hot season begins, residents in the six towns of the Greater Gardner area must cast their ballots in the Annual Town Election.
Between the end of April and mid-June, residents of Ashburnham, Hubbardston, Phillipston, Templeton, Westminster, and Winchendon can vote for open official positions in their local government. The city of Gardner does not have an annual town election form of government; instead, it elects a mayor every four years, and each city council member has a two-year term.
Residents must register to vote 10 days before their community's Annual Town Election. Click here to register through the State Secretary's website before the deadline.
Here's what you need to know about your town's annual election day.
Ashburnham and Westminster
Both Ashburnham and Westminster residents will cast their annual town election ballots on Tuesday, April 30. The last day to register to vote for Ashburnham and Westminster residents has already passed.
The Ashburnham election polls will open at the J.R. Briggs Elementary School Gym on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are 12 open town positions residents will vote for. To view the annual town election sample ballot, visit the Town Clerk's website.
The town moderator position is open for a one year term.
A three-year term and a one year term on the select board.
One planning board seat with a three-year term.
Two three-year term positions on the Board of Health.
Two three-year term Library Trustee positions and one one-year term.
One three-year term for a Municipal Light Board seat.
A three-year seat on the Regional School Committee for an Ashburnham resident.
A three-year seat on the Regional School Committee for a Westminster resident.
More: Westminster kicks off Town Meeting season May 4: When your town is meeting, what to know
The Westminster town election polls will open at the Westminster Senior and Community Center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters will cast their ballots to fill 14 open local government positions in Westminster. To view the annual town election sample ballot, visit the Town Clerk's website.
One three-year term on the Select Board.
One three-year term Board of Health seat.
A three-year term Board of Assessors as well as a two-year term on the Board.
Two three-year terms on the Library Trustees and a one-year term on the Trustees.
A three-year term on the Hager Park Commission.
A three-year term Planning Board position and a one-year term board position.
A five-year term on the Housing Authority.
A three-year term on the Cemetery Commission.
A three-year seat on the Regional School Committee for an Ashburnham resident.
A three-year seat on the Regional School Committee for a Westminster resident.
Winchendon
On Monday, May 6, the Winchendon polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Old Murdock Senior Center. The last day Winchendon residents can register to vote is this Thursday, April 27. To view the sample ballot visit the Town's Clerk website.
Winchendon residents will vote for nine open positions in the local government and one ballot question. Two of the positions on the ballot are for candidates appointed after a vacancy appeared, and voters have the opportunity to decide if the appointee will finish their term.
John Catlin, who was appointed to the School Committee is seeking election for the one year remaining in his term. Monique Connor has been appointed the Board of Health clerk, and the term ends in two years. Connor is seeking election to the seat, and is being challenged by Christine Haslam-Giovannucci.
In addition, there are two available seats on the School Committee and no candidates on the ballot. School Committee chair Karen Kast-McBride said that two individuals, David Iannaccone and Michael Barbaro, may seek election as write-in candidates.
Two seats for the Board of Selectmen, each for a three-year term.
Two seats in the School Committee, each for a three-year term.
Two seats for the Board of Health, each for a three-year term.
One seat for the Housing Authority, which is a five-year term.
The ballot question on the 2024 annual town election ballot asks the voters a "Yes" or "No" question, if they want to approve the amendment proposed on the Town Charter at the Nov. 13, 2023 Special Town Meeting and they were addressed again on the Dec. 11 2023. The changes to the Charter include grammar, capitalization, gender neutrality, internal consistency, and references to and updates based on state law and other matters.
Phillipston
Phillipston residents will vote in their annual town election on Monday, May 20. Voters will cast their ballots in Town Hall from noon to 8 p.m. The ballot includes 13 positions and one ballot question that proposes an override. The last day for Phillipston residents to register to vote is on Monday, May 6. Click here to register.
A three-year term Selectmen position and a one-year term Selectmen position.
One three-year term Assessor seat.
One three-year Board of Health seat.
A three-year term for the Cemetery Commission and a two-year term for the commission.
One Constable position, a three-year term.
One three-year term Library Trustee position.
A five-year term on the Planning Board and one two-year position on the board.
The Town Moderator, a three-year term.
A three-year term on the Narragansett Regional School Committee Phillipston member.
Two three-year term on the Narragansett Regional School Committee Templeton member.
On the ballot, voters will be asked to increase the town's levy limit by an additional $175,000 for the Town and Public Schools' 2025 fiscal operating budget.
Templeton
Templeton voters will cast their ballots on Monday, May 20, at the Gymnasium in the Narragansett Regional High School from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The last day for Templeton residents to register to vote is Monday, May 6. Click here to register.
Residents will vote to fill 16 positions open in the town government and one ballot question.
One three-year term on the Select Board.
One three-year term on the Board of Assessors.
One three-year term on the Board of Health.
A three-year term on the Cemetery Commission.
Town Clerk, a three-year term.
A three-year term on the Community Preservation Committee.
Two Constables positions, each a three-year term.
One three-year term on the Light and Water Commission.
Town Moderator position, a one year term.
One five-year term Housing Authority position.
One five-year term on the Planning Board.
One three-year term on the Sewer Commission.
A three-year term on the Narragansett Regional School Committee Phillipston member.
Two three-year term on the Narragansett Regional School Committee Templeton member.
The ballot question asks voters to allow the town to borrow the money needed to pay for the repairs to the Main Street Bridge. Currently, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation monitors the Main Street Bridge, which has been narrowed to only one open lane because of the deterioration.
Town Administrator Adam Lamontagne said the town will need up to $3.7 million for the repairs, but they will not know until all bids are completed. The borrowing period is 15 years, and the expected impact from the borrowing is negligible because the town has $350,000 of excluded debt that will be paid off in fiscal 2025.
Lamontagne said that if the proposed debt exclusion is not passed at this year's Annual Town Meeting and Election, it will delay construction, and inflation could further increase costs.
Hubbardston
Hubbardston residents will have their annual town election on Tuesday, June 11 at the Hubbardston Center School Gym. The last day to register to vote is Saturday, June 1. Click here to register. In this annual town election, residents must vote to fill 20 positions in their local government.
Two Select Board positions, each three-year term.
One three-year term on the Board of Assessors.
Three positions on the Board of Health: two open seats are for a three-year term and one is for a two-year term.
One three-year term on the Cemetery Commission.
Three Library Trustees positions: two are a three-year term and one is a one year term.
Two open seats on the Quabbin Regional District School Committee, each are a three-year term.
Three open positions on the Finance Committee: two positions are a three-year term and one is a year term.
Four open seats on the Parks Commission: one seat is a three-year term, two are a two-year term, and one is a year term.
One five-year term on the Planning Board.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Annual town election dates for the towns in greater Gardner
