Election Information & Results
ELECTION RESULTS:
**2018 ANTICIPATED ELECTION DATES**
ELECTION |
DATE OF ELECTION |
DEADLINE TO REGISTER |
Annual Town Election |
Saturday, April 7, 2018 |
Friday, March 16, 2018 |
State Primary |
Tuesday, September 4, 2018 |
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 |
| State Election | Tuesday, November 6, 2018 |
Wednesday, October 17, 2018 |
ABSENTEE VOTING
Absentee voting is permitted prior to each Election until Noon the day before the Election.
In order to be eligible to vote by absentee ballot in Massachusetts, a voter must be prevented from voting at their polling place on Election Day, due to:
- Absence from the voter's city or town on Election Day; or
- Physical disability; or
- Religious belief.
PLEASE NOTE: Early voting will be only be available for biennial November STATE ELECTIONS.
CHECK VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS
HOW TO APPLY FOR AN
ABSENTEE BALLOT
Voting Equipment
The Town of Middleborough purchased new voting equipment which we began using at the Presidential Primary Election on March 1, 2016. The new machines are referred to as ImageCast Precinct Tabulators which capture an image of each ballot as it is processed and records the votes for each office. Voters are now required to fill in an oval next to the candidate of their choice. The ImageCast Precinct Tabulators have LCD screens which display messages to alert the voter as to whether a ballot has been accepted or if there is an error reading the ballot. Our vendor, LHS Associates, was onsite for the entire election day at the Presidential Primary. Also, mandatory training of all election officers and testing of the new voting equipment has been conducted. Voting Equipment Video Demonstration
Voter Registration
You may register to vote in Massachusetts provided you are a United States citizen, a resident of Massachusetts, will be 18 years of age on or before the next election and you are not currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction. Voter registration in Middleborough has never been easier than it is today!
- In Person: You may visit the Town Clerk's Office in Middleborough located at 20 Centre Street on the 1st floor and complete a voter registration form in person.
- Mail-in Voter Registration: Mail-in voter registration forms are available at the Middleborough Town Clerk's Office, Council on Aging, Public Library, Gas & Electric Department, Town Hall and High School. Mail-in voter registration forms may also be obtained by calling the State Elections Division at (800) 462-VOTE. In addition, the state registries of motor vehicles, social service agencies and military recruitment offices provide voter registration services. You may also download the voter registration form by using the following link: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Voter-reg-mail-in.pdf.The form must be completed, signed, and delivered to your local election official. Voter registration forms submitted by mail must be postmarked no later than the voter registration deadline.
- Online Voter Registration: You may also register using the NEW Online Voter Registration System. To submit an online application, you must have a valid driver's license, learner's permit, or non-driver ID issued by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). You must also have a signature on file with the RMV. If you do not have an RMV ID, you may still use the online system to create an application. PRINT and sign the completed form, and then mail or bring it to your local election official. The online system will allow you to:
- apply to register to vote in Massachusetts
- change your name or address for voter registration purposes
- enroll in a political party, change your party enrollment, or unenroll from a party
*For more information on registering to vote in Massachusetts, click on the following link for the Elections Division.
Registration Deadlines
In order to vote you must be registered:
- 20 days prior to all primaries and elections, and/or
- 10 days before a Special Town Meeting.
- When a voter registration date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline falls back to previous workday.
Political Parties and Political Designations
When you register to vote, you may choose to enroll in a political party or political designation or may choose to remained “Unenrolled,” which is commonly referred to as “Independent.”
Choosing to Enroll in a Political Party: There are four political parties in Massachusetts:
- Democratic
- Republican
- Libertarian
- Green-Rainbow
If you enroll in any of these four political parties you may only vote in that party’s primary. Enrollment in a political party does not affect your right to vote in a general election. In a general election, all voters receive the same ballot and vote for the candidate of their choice regardless of party enrollment.
Choosing No Enrollment in a Political Party: If you do not wish to enroll in a party, check the box next to “No Party (Unenrolled)” on the voter registration form. If you do not enroll in a party, you may still vote in state and presidential primaries by choosing a party ballot and will remain Unenrolled.
Choosing to Enroll in a Political Designation: In addition to the three political parties, there are certain legal political designations in which you may enroll. If you enroll in any political designation you may vote in the state or presidential primary of your choice.
Change Party Enrollment or Political Designation: Once you make an enrollment choice, you may change your enrollment status by notifying your election official in writing at least twenty (20) days before a primary or election.
Please refer to the following link for further information regarding Political Parties/Political Designations from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Election Division page: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepar/paridx.htm
Polling Locations/Hours
The Town of Middleborough has four (4) polling locations:
- PRECINCT 1 Oak Point Club House, 202 Oak Point Dr.
- PRECINCTS 2, 4, 6 Middleborough High School Gymnasium, 71 East Grove St.
- PRECINCT 3 South Middleborough Fire Station, 566 Wareham St.
- PRECINCT 5 Council on Aging, 558 Plymouth St.
The polling hours for State Elections/Primaries: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The polling hours for Presidential Elections: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The polling hours for regularly scheduled Annual Town Elections: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Election Results
The Town Clerk's Office publishes records of all Elections Results for the Town of Middleborough on our Town website (see above).
Running for Public Office and Campaign Finance Forms
Any person who is a Middleborough resident and a registered voter may obtain nomination papers for the April Annual Town Election ballot from the Town Clerk's Office. Nomination papers and election calendars are available each January 1st.. Candidates running for town-wide office require the signatures of 50 voters. Candidates for municipal office may download the forms for:
- Campaign Finance Reports (CPF M102) and click the following link for Instructions
- Statement of Organization of Candidate Committee (CPF M101)
- All other forms are available from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance,
forms section of their web page at: www.ocpf.us
or may be picked up at the Middleborough Town Clerk's Office.
Election Information
The Town Clerk is the Chief Election Official and is authorized by state law to administer elections and elections-related functions. In addition to the Town Clerk, the Town of Middleborough has three Registrars of Voters who are appointed by the Board of Selectmen, each serving a three-year term. The Registrars of Voters must always represent each of the two leading political parties. The daily administration of elections processes is managed by the Town Clerk.
Secretary of the Commonwealth's Election Information Page.
Secretary of the Commonwealth's Historical Election Data Page
Please contact the Town Clerk’s Office with any additional questions at (508) 946-2415 or clerkweb@middleborough.com.