2022 Annual Town Election, Voter Registration & Absentee

2022 ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION, VOTER REGISTRATION & ABSENTEE

Annual Town Election- Monday, April 4, 2022

NOMINATION PAPERS

Available starting Monday, January 10, 2022 at the Office of the Town Clerk.  Please call ahead (508-946-8800) to make an appointment to request nomination papers between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm Monday - Thursday and Friday, 8:00 am 'til Noon.

Nomination papers can be obtained by contacting the Lakeville Town Clerk’s office and making an appointment.  Please contact our office at any time if you have any questions.

• Multiple signature pages – Each signee, or family, may have their own individual nomination paper form.
• Scheduling drop-off - Please give our office a call to schedule drop off of nomination papers so we can issue you a receipt.

• Electronic signatures. All signatures must be in wet ink.
• Time Extensions. There are no extended deadlines approved by Massachusetts State for the obtaining of nomination signatures.
• Reduction of Signatures. The number of signatures required remains the same at 54.

• You can mail/email individual nomination papers to people and ask them to print and sign them and mail them back to you.
• Candidates can set up a table, with permission at a post office or other public place (i.e. a grocery store), but include fresh pens, gloves and sanitizer.
• Some candidates are announcing the locations of supporters who have covered porches and letting people drop by to sign.  Candidates can set specific hours to sign so their nomination papers don't stay unsupervised for long hours.
• Advertise designated signing areas/times through social media or mail.
• Please note: each page must have the candidate's information filled out on both the front and back of the page.

Registered voters of the Town of Lakeville will elect the following positions:

• 1- Select Board – 3 year term (Incumbent Evagelia 'Lia" Fabian)
• 1- Assessor – 3 year term (Incumbent Jonathan Pink)
• 1- Board of Health- 3 year term (Incumbent Robert J. Poillucci)
• 1- Cemetery Commissioner- 3 year term (Incumbent Joan Morton)
• 2- Finance Committee- Vote for 2- 3 year term (Incumbent Darren Beals & Appointee Lawrence Kostant)
• 1- Moderator- 1 year term (Incumbent Kathryn Goodfellow)
• 2- Park Commissioner- Vote for 2-3 year term (Incumbent Joseph Coscia & Anthony B. Chiuppi)
• 1- Planning Board –  5 year term (Incumbent Barbara Mancovsky)
• 1-Trustees of the Public Library –  3 year term (Incumbent Nancy A. Johnson-LaFave)
• 1- Town Clerk- 3 year term (Incumbent Lillian M. Drane)
• 1- Freetown/Lakeville Regional School Committee –  3 year term (Incumbent Laura J. Ramsden)

DEADLINES:

• Last day to OBTAIN Nomination Papers:  Thursday, February 10th @ 5:00 pm
• Last day to RETURN Nomination Papers:  Monday, February 14th @ 5:00 pm
• Last day to WITHDRAW Nomination:  Wednesday, March 2nd @ 5:00 pm
• Last day to REGISTER to vote:  Tuesday, March 15th @ 8:00 pm

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT FILING DEADLINES:

• Form CPF M102 (Eight (8) days preceding election)- Due:      Monday, March 28, 2022
• Form CPF M102 (Thirty (30) days after election)- Due:            Wednesday, May 4, 2022
• End of Year Report Due:                                                           Friday, January 20, 2023

If you do not receive any contributions, spend any money (including your own) or incur any liabilities in connection with your campaign, you may sign FORM CPF M102-0 (available at the Town Clerks Office or Online) for each reporting period in lieu of filing Form CPF M102.

ELECTION DAY

HOURS OF POLLS:  The polls will be open from NOON. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022

                                   28 Precinct Street, Lakeville, MA 02347

VOTER REGISTRATION

Town Clerk Lillian M. Drane would like to announce that voter registration in Lakeville has never been easier than it is today!   All residents of Lakeville (18 years of age and over) who are not already registered voters must be registered to vote by Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 8:00 pm is the final date and time to be registered for the upcoming Annual Town Election which will be held on Monday, April 4, 2022.

In Person:  You may visit the Town Clerk’s Office in Lakeville located at 346 Bedford Street and complete a voter registration form in person- please call ahead.

Mail-In Voter Registration:  Mail-in voter registration forms are available at the Lakeville Town Clerk’s Office, Post Office and the Public Library.  Mail-in voter registration forms may also be obtained by calling the State Elections Division at (800) 462-VOTE or visiting the website at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howreg.htm.  In addition, the state registries of motor vehicles, social services agencies and military recruitment offices provide voter registration services.

Online Voter Registration:  You may also register using the NEW Online Voter Registration System at www.RegisterToVoteMA.com.  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 (RVM).  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.

Registered Voters:  Voters are required to return the Census form annually to retain their “Active” status on the voter list.  If you are a registered voter and do not respond to the census, the Board of Registrars is required by law to move you to the “INACTIVE VOTER LIST” (MGL, Ch 51,§4). You will still be eligible to vote in Lakeville, but only after completing an “Affirmation of Current & Continuous Residence” form and showing evidence (i.e. driver’s license or other acceptable documentation) when you go to the polls.

ELECTION OBSERVERS

Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the number of observers may be limited and advance notice of location and time will therefore be required.  Please email notification to ldrane@lakevillema.org or call 508-946-8800.

WRITE-IN CANDIDATE

If anyone is wishing to run as a "write-in" candidate, to please give the Town Clerk's office a courtesy call at 508-946-8800 or email at ldrane@lakevillema.org.  The first step in running for office as a "write-in" candidate is checking with local officials about any particular technicalities involved.  The Town Clerk's office will give guidance on the general requirements that its needed to run as a "write-in" candidate.  By notifying the Town Clerk's office, the Town Clerk will inform precinct officials to carefully count all "write-ins".

It is important for you to give clear instructions to voters about the office which you are seeking and where to write in your name. Please note that write-in votes are counted for the office where the name is written. For example, if you are running for selectmen, but the voter places your name under school committee, you will receive a vote for school committee.

Please be aware that campaign materials, including flyers, cannot be distributed within 150 feet of the polling location. The 150-foot area includes the polling place, in the building where the polling place is located, on the walls thereof, on the premises on which the building stands, or within 150 feet of the building entrance door to such polling place.

To be elected in a general election, a write-in candidate must receive more votes than any other candidate for that office. There is no minimum number of votes required.

ABSENTEE BALLOT INFORMATION

Absentee Ballot Applications can be filed annually after January 1st for all elections to be held in the Calendar year 2022.  -see attachment below for Absentee Ballot Application

Absentee Voting applies to:

• A registered voter who is absent from the voter’s city or town during normal polling hours;
• A registered voter with a physical disability that prevents them from going to the polling place (including precautions being taken relating to COVID-19- admitted to the hospital within 1 week of the election, or quarantined within 1 week of the election); or
• A registered voter is unable to go to the polls because of religious beliefs,
• A non-registered voter who is absent from the state; or
• An active member of the armed forces or merchant marines, their spouses or dependent; or
• A non-registered voter who is confined in a correctional or a jail, except if by reason of felony conviction.

If you are NOT going to be in town between the hours of NOON to 8:00 P.M., you may wish to vote in absentia. 

All applications for a vote by mail ballot must be received by the Town Clerk before 5:00pm on March 29, 2022. 

In-Person Absentee Voting

Absentee voting in person is available during regular business hours, Monday-Thursday, 8:00am - 4:30pm & Friday, 8:00am - 12 noon at the Town Clerk's Office (346 Bedford Street, Lakeville- BY APPOINTMENT ONLY), until Friday, April 1st at 5:00 P.M.

EARLY VOTING

EMERGENCY BALLOTS

If you have been admitted to a healthcare facility within 7 days of an election, or you have been instructed by a medical professional or public health official to self-quarantine in your home within 7 days of an election, you may use the absentee ballot application to designate someone to pick up your emergency absentee ballot, deliver it to you, and return it to the Town Clerk. There is no deadline to submit an application for an emergency ballot, but your ballot must be returned to the Town Clerk by the close of polls

DROP BOX

Town Clerk, Lillian M. Drane would like to introduce to residents the NEW TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE DROP BOX located outside of the Town Hall (346 Bedford Street, Lakeville, MA 02347). The drop box will be utilized for election mail including absentee ballot applications, ballots and voter registration forms, dog licenses, vital records request and other business conducted by the town clerk's office.

COVID-19 Protocol:

• Social distinancing of 6 ft at all times- social distancing will be observed both in waiting lines to enter the polls, as well as within the polling area; please be patient.
• Not more than 12 voters will be allowed inside the polling location to vote.
• Voting booths will be placed a minimum of 6 ft apart and outfitted with a germ protection guard. Each Precinct polling area will be configured to maximize proper distancing between voters with limited booths.
• Voting booths will be sanitized after each use.
• Will be asked to use face coverings while inside the polling location. A number of extra masks will be available to voters who do not have their own.
• Any voter who feels they may be symptomatic will be asked to be isolated to vote in person and sanitizing of the isolation (No Mask) area will be performed after use.
• Every check-in/out tables will have plexiglass barriers to seperate election workers from voters.
• Ballot marking pens will be given to the voter at the check-in table, and have the option to take the pen with them or drop off at the check-out table in designated basket or you can use your own black ink pen (ImageCast machines will not read red/ highlighters; pencil/ crayons causes issues with tabulator breakdowns). Each ballot pen will be sanitized after each use. (No ballots marking pens will be in the booths.)
• Keep your ballot dry and free from hand sanitizers- Do not use hand sanitizer while handling your ballot and be sure your voting booth is dry as it will cause issues tabulator breakdowns.
• Voters will be asked to sanitize their hands at check-out/ Exit Doors (ballots cannot be wet and inserted into voting machine- causing voting machines to jam). 
• Election staffing will be minimized.
• Directional and special markings will be taped on the floor.
• Voters will be asked to enter, vote and exit the polling location without delay.  No lingering or socializing will be permitted.
• Used masks and gloves should be placed in Trash Barrels outside the Exit Doors.
• After the close of the polls, observers will be asked to use personal protection equipment and will be allowed to observe from a safe distance from each other.

These precautions are necessary to provide a safe voting environment, and for the protection of all voters and the Election staff to the greatest extent possible.

Thank you for your understanding and anticipated compliance with these procedures, in order that we can all experience a safe voting environment.  If you will be voting in person on Monday, April 4th, we will look forward to assisting you there.

Please contact the Town Clerk's office for any additional information or questions: 508-946-8800.