Notes from the Town Clerk
Hello All ~ I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. Can you believe it’s December and the end of the year is right around the corner? Where did 2016 go?
EARLY VOTING STATISTICS
Due to ongoing Early Voting sessions (October 24-November 4), when I submitted my November article, I was unable to provide the final tally of Early Voting participants for the November 8, 2016 State and Presidential Election. We had a whopping 24% of the voters come out early to vote (281 Absentee Voters and 1,749 Early Voting Participants = 2,030 early voters). Voters really enjoyed the Early Voting process. I would like to thank all the “Early Voters” who came out to vote during the first Massachusetts Early Voting Session; you are all now a part of history!! I would also personally like to thank all the Election Workers who helped us with the Early Voting Sessions on October 29th and the week of October 31-November 4th. We did not know what to expect for voter turnout for this first Early Voting session in Massachusetts so we decided not to schedule any election workers during the first week of Early Voting in an effort to save the town money. Lynn and I were swamped with voters and unable to prepare for the 11-8-16 election or complete our other departmental responsibilities until after the office closed. Therefore, we scheduled election workers for the week leading up to the November 8th elections and everything ran smoothly. Early Voting was successful statewide also resulting in State Elections informing the Massachusetts City and Town Clerks that Early Voting is here to stay for all future biennial State elections. There will be some tweaking of the law to make it less cumbersome and costly to the cities and towns in the future; however, Early Voting will be a part of all Presidential and Gubernatorial Elections in the future and may expand to all elections – details will be shared when the election laws are updated/amended.
CERTIFIED NOVEMBER 8, 2016 ELECTION RESULTS
After waiting for the 5:00 p.m. November 18th State mandated deadline for overseas Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWAB) to be received, we were required to schedule and post a legal meeting of the Registrar of Voters to count the FWABs. That meeting was held on Tuesday, November 22nd at Noon, where the final adjustments were made to the “Unofficial” tally results and the November 8, 2016 Election was certified later that evening. Final Results are on the town website:
http://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/sites/rehobothma/files/news/official_tally-state_presidential-11-08-2016-final.pdf a brief summary of votes appears below:
Rehoboth had 81% (6,977 of 8,601 voters) of its voting population participate in the 11-8-16 election. That is FANTASTIC – thank you all for taking the time to have your voice heard and vote counted!
I would personally like to thank Assistant Town Clerk – Lynn Shaker, the Board of Registrars, all our election workers (Wardens, Clerks, Inspectors, Constables), election equipment crew (Neal Harrington, Dan Noons and firefighters at south fire station, veterans Mr. Daggett and Mr. Maguire, highway personnel), Vinos Café’s delicious personally delivered dinners, and Dunkin Donuts. Without the help and support of you all, our elections would not be possible. Thank you all for your time and dedication. We have a wonderful group ~ thank you all! Remember, if anyone is interested in becoming an election worker, please fill out a Talent Bank form located on the Town’s website at: http://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/sites/rehobothma/files/uploads/talent_bank_form.pdf) and submit the completed form to the Board of Selectmen’s office. Thank you for your consideration, it is a fun filled day!
A few major events will be occurring right after the holidays; as a result, I would like to give you a quick update on the 2017 Annual Town Census Forms, the availability of nomination papers for the upcoming Annual Town Election, and information January 23rd Special Town Meeting.
ANNUAL TOWN CENSUS
Our Annual Town Census Forms for year 2017 will be mailed to all households in Rehoboth during the first week of January. The Board of Registrars is required to conduct an annual listing of residents as of the first of January each year. In addition to the name, address, telephone number, date of birth, occupation, veteran status, and number of dogs, the form includes a section for school information required by the school department. New this year is a section for e-mail addresses and cell phone numbers.
Failure to return the completed census form may result in voters being placed on an “inactive” voting list or being removed from the voting list. As this was a Presidential Election year, we had 561 “inactive” voters who were required to show proof of residency prior to voting on November 8th. Please do not let this happen to you – please return your census as soon as you receive it in January. Simply review the pre-printed Census Form, make corrections, sign it, and return it no later than January 31st. You can choose to return the Census Form via the U.S. Postal Service, utilize the Census drop off boxes at Town Hall, Blanding Library, Bristol County Savings Bank, or the Senior Center. Additionally, you may scan your signed and completed census forms and email them to either LSchwall@town.rehoboth.ma.us or LShaker@town.rehoboth.ma.us . We look forward to hearing from you in January.
New residents may receive blank forms, which they are asked to complete and return. If you do not receive a Census Form, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office 508-252-6502 X-3110 or X-3109. Blank Census forms are also available on the town website @
http://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/census-information
For the convenience of dog owners, we have again included with the Census, an application for the 2017 Dog License(s). This gives dog owners the opportunity to license their dogs well before the annual April 1st due date should they want to license their dogs early. Dog license applications must be accompanied by a current rabies certificate (with a vaccination date of May 1, 2017 or later) and proof of spay or neuter, unless we already have it on file in the Clerk’s Office (if applying for the $10 licensing fee). If you are unsure, please give the office a call and we can let you know what we have in our database. Dog owners should note that the license(s) will not be returned unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is included (the current postage will be printed on the dog license application). For your information, Seekonk and Rehoboth will be teaming up again in March of 2017 for our Annual Rabies Clinic at the Seekonk Highway Department (corner of Route 44 & Lake Street). Details will be printed in the 2017 Census mailer.
If you are returning your dog tag application as well as your census forms, residents are asked to return their completed forms via mail, e-mail, or place their form in one of the “Census” containers located at the drop off locations mentioned earlier in this article. The containers will remain at these locations through the end of January for your convenience.
NOTE: Residents are requested to please send in their census forms as quickly as possible regardless of whether or not they license their dogs at this time.
Results of the census are used to prove residency for a variety of reasons. The data is also used for state college entrance applications, veterans’ benefits, amending and establishing birth records, locating missing persons, establishing precinct lines, predicting future school enrollment, state and federal funding to the town, police and fire protection, updating the voting list, and other legal purposes. Please return your census as soon as possible ~ thank you.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING–MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017 AT 7:00 P.M. DRRHS-AUDITORIUM
The Board of Selectmen have scheduled a Special Town Meeting for Monday, January 23, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the D-R Regional High School Auditorium. An “inclement weather/snow date” has also been scheduled should we be unable to meet on the 23rd due to weather. Monday, January 30th is the “snow date” if the January 23rd Special Town Meeting is cancelled. The main purpose of the January Special Town Meeting is to see if the voters are willing to place a “debt exclusion” ballot question on the Annual April Town election ballot for the proposed Municipal Complex. Additional information on the proposed Municipal Complex can be found on the Town’s website – www.town.rehoboth.ma.us under “News and Announcements” – Municipal Complex Information. Last day to register to vote at the 1/23/17 Special Town Meeting is Friday, January 13th, 2017. For your convenience the Clerk’s office will be open from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. for voter registration.
ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION – APRIL 3, 2017
The Annual Town Election for the Town of Rehoboth will be held on Monday, April 3, 2017 with the polls open from 7 am to 8 pm. All three precincts will be open.
For those who do not participate in a political party’s caucus process, nomination papers will be available as of January 3, 2017 for any registered voter in Rehoboth wishing to run for election on the Town ballot. The nomination papers may be picked up by prospective candidates at the Town Clerk’s office and must be returned, signed by a minimum of 38* registered Rehoboth voters, to the Board of Registrars at the Town Clerk’s Office (148 Peck Street) by 5 p.m. on Monday, February 13th.
* The signature minimum changes after each gubernatorial election as per MGL Chapter 53 – Section 6. The 11-4-14 election changed our minimum signature requirement for nomination papers from 45 to 38 (1% of the entire vote cast for governor at the preceding biennial state election ~ 3,796 x 1% = 38).
Positions to be elected on the ballot for 2017 are Moderator (one for 1 year), Selectmen (two position for 3 years), Tax Collector (one for 3 years), Assessor (one for 3 years), School Committee (two for 3 years), Planning Board (two for 5 years), Park Commission (one for 5 years), Housing Authority (one for 5 years, one for 3 years), and Water Commissioner (two for 3 years and one).
The final voter registration date to be eligible to vote in the Annual Town Election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 14th from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Clerk’s Office.
Prospective voters are reminded that they may also register to vote online at www.RegisterToVoteMA.com , by calling the Town Clerk’s Office to request a Mail-In voter registration form, or download a form @ http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Voter-reg-mail-in.pdf
ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUESTS
Applications for absentee ballots are available as of January 3rd and may be obtained from the Town Clerk’s Office or online @ http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee_ballot.pdf. An absentee ballot may only be obtained by written request and with the voter’s original signature. As a result, an “Absentee Application By A Family Member” form can be downloaded from the Secretary of State’s website @ http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee_ballot_fam.pdf
TOWN OFFICES CLOSED
The Town Offices will be closed on Friday, December 23rd and Monday, December 26th in observance of the Christmas Holiday. Town offices will also be closed on Friday, December 30, 2016 for New Year’s Eve and all day on Monday, January 2nd, 2017 for New Year’s Day.
Lynn and I would like to wish you all a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season and peace and prosperity to all Rehoboth residents for the New Year.
Sincerely,
Laura & Lynn
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