From the Town Clerk

The world around us is changing minute by minute as we deal with the Covid-19 virus. While these changes are going on the Town Hall and the Town Clerk’s office is committed to serving the residents of Seekonk safely and effectively. I want to thank the residents for having patience during this disconcerting time.

As of right now the Town Clerk’s office is not open to the public. We have been making appointments for individuals to pick up outstanding marriage licenses and doing those transactions outside. We are still evaluating how we will help couples apply for a marriage license. Dog license renewals can be handled by mail. Please send in the form with a check made out to the Town of Seekonk. Neutered/spay animals are $10 unneutered/non-spayed animals are $20. Include a self-addressed envelope and proof of your dog’s rabies vaccine and we will mail the dog tag(s) back to you. We are waiving the March 31 deadline but please make every effort to mail in your dog’s information. It is a Massachusetts general law that dogs be licensed annually.

Recently, the state of Massachusetts passed a law allowing cities and towns to postpone their respective elections due to Covid-19. Seekonk’s Board of Selectmen voted on March 26, 2020 to postpone the town election to June 30, 2020. The law also allows EARLY VOTING by mail, but unlike absentee voting, no excuse is required. Ballots for the original election will still be valid. Absentee ballots that have already been submitted are valid and will be counted.

 Under the Massachusetts Constitution, absentee ballots are available for all elections to voters who are disabled, out of town on Election Day, or have a religious belief preventing them from voting at their polling place. A new law was passed stating also that any person taking precaution related to COVID-19, in response to a declared state of emergency, or on advice from a medical professional, local or state health official, or any civil authority, shall be considered unable by reason of physical disability to cast their vote, in person at a polling location.

Applications for absentee ballots and Early Voting Ballots are available on the Town web-site. You may also request an absentee, or early voting ballot, by submitting a signed letter to the Seekonk Town Clerk's office, if you cannot download and print the application from the town website.

Be sure to include your name and address, the election(s) for which you are requesting a ballot. If you need the ballot mailed somewhere other than your home, be sure to provide that address.

Completed absentee and early ballot applications must be submitted to the Town Clerk’s office. Applications may be mailed, hand-delivered, faxed (508-336-0764), or emailed to fcraig@seekonk-ma.gov . If you are emailing your application, you must be able to send an image of the application as an attachment, either by scanning it or by taking a picture of it. A hand-written signature must be visible.

All mail-in ballots must be submitted to town hall by the close of polls on the day of the election – June 30, 2020. A postmark is not sufficient. Absentee ballots may be mailed or hand-delivered by a family member. Please be sure to allow enough time for the mailing of your application and your ballot.

If you have any questions or concerns please email me at: fcraig@seekonk-ma.gov

All departments in Town are working very hard to help the residents of Seekonk in every way possible.  Thank you all for your patience and let’s all hope and pray this is over soon.

Stay well.