To celebrate National Voter Registration Day, the Belmont Town Clerk’s office will remain open until 8 p.m. today, Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Residents of Belmont who are citizens of the United States and will be age 18 or older on the day of the State election, Nov. 4, may register to vote at the Town Clerk’s office in Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave. Registrants should be certain to have identification that complies with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
To celebrate National Voter Registration Day, the Belmont Town Clerk’s office will remain open until 8 p.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Residents of Belmont who are citizens of the United States and will be age 18 or older on the day of the State election, Nov. 4, may register to vote at the Town Clerk’s office in Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave. Registrants should be certain to have identification that complies with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
A voter registration day will be held for Belmont High School students and staff on Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 10:40 a.m., to 12:40 p.m. outside the cafeteria at the high school. Staff and students who are U.S. citizens and will turn 18 on or before Nov. 4 can register to vote.
Just remember, the final day to register to vote or make any changes to your party, address or name, to qualify for the State Election is Oct. 15.
The Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall, 455 Concord Avenue will remain open until 8 p.m. on Oct. 15 to accept voter registrations and changes that evening; mailed registration form .
To learn more about registering to vote, HAVA, and upcoming elections, or to print registration forms, please visit the Town Clerk’s website or telephone the Town Clerk’s office at 617-993-2600.
A reminder from Ellen Cushman, Belmont’s Town Clerk: The polls will be open in Belmont for the State Primary Election, Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please check the Town Clerk’s web pages for more information
Voting Locations
Precinct 1: Belmont Memorial Library, Assembly Room, 336 Concord Avenue
Precinct 2: Belmont Town Hall, Selectmens’ Meeting Room, 455 Concord Avenue
Precinct 3: Beech Street Center (Senior Center), 266 Beech Street
Precinct 4: Daniel Butler School, Gymnasium, 90 White Street
Precinct 5: Beech Street Center (Senior Center), 266 Beech Street
Precinct 6: Belmont Fire Headquarters, 299 Trapelo Road
Precinct 7: Mary Lee Burbank School, Gymnasium, 266 School Street
Precinct 8: Winn Brook School, Gymnasium, 97 Waterhouse Road (enter from Cross Street)
Did You Receive a Postcard from the Town Clerk This Summer?
Each voter in a household that did not return the 2014 Town Census was mailed a postcard asking for confirmation that the voter is still living in Belmont per Massachusetts General Law C. 51 §4. Those voters is now labeled as “inactive”, meaning that the voter must provide proof of identification and address prior to voting. If you received that postcard and have not yet returned it, please do so immediately to re-activate your voting status if you’re still living in Belmont. Returns received by Monday, Sept. 8 at noon will be recorded in the Sept. 9 voting list.
Absentee Voting Deadline Monday, Sept. 8 at Noon
Registered voters of Belmont who qualify to vote Absentee for the upcoming primary election may take advantage of the “in person absentee” option at the Town Clerk’s office or file an application to be mailed an absentee ballot. The request/application must contain the voter’s signature and must indicate the party of the ballot the voter requests if the voter is unaffiliated as a Democrat or Republican. Applications must be received by the Town Clerk by noon, Monday, Sept. 8.
Enforcement of the Pet License Law Underway
Per Belmont’s Bylaws, every dog and cat in Belmont must be licensed annually by March 15. Issuance of $50 Non-Criminal Violations to owners of pets not licensed for 2014 is currently underway. If you haven’t yet licensed your pet, please submit your license application, late licensing fee and required documents in person or by mail to the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall, 455 Concord Avenue. Renewals of licenses for pets with up-to-date Rabies Vaccinations can be performed online for a $1. 22 processing fee. For application and complete information , please see the Town Clerk’s web pages and select the applicable pet license option.
Here is information that will confirm that summer is nearly over: the biennial State Elections are just around the corner as Massachusetts voters this year will select several important statewide political officials including a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General and Treasurer along with members of Congress and the state legislature.
If you want to be part of the process, Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman is ready to register residents to vote in the Sept. 9 State Party Primary and the Nov. 4 General State elections.
Any Belmont resident who is 18 years or older and a citizen of the United States can register to vote. In order to be eligible to vote in the upcoming elections, voter registration must be received or postmarked by the following dates:
The Belmont Town Clerk’s office will be open until 8 p.m. on the deadline days.
Registered To Vote in Another Town
If you were a registered to vote in another town or state, you’ll need to register as a voter in Belmont in order to vote here.
Voter registration and changes to party affiliation, name or address (within Belmont) documents are available at the Town Clerk’s office in Belmont Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave. or online at the Town Clerk’s web pages.
Absentee Ballot Application
Forms for individuals who qualify to receive an absentee ballot due to absence from Belmont on Election Day or physical disability preventing the voter from going to the polling place or religious belief. A voter may request a ballot in writing to the Town Clerk but the request must include the voter’s signature.
Today, Tuesday, April 1, Belmont voters will be casting ballots for town-wide office holders, town meeting representatives and on a $2.9 million debt exclusion for a new Underwood Pool.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Who can vote
Any resident registered to vote: this is a non-partisan election; any party members can vote.
List of the candidates on the ballot
Check out who is running on the sample ballot provided by the Town Clerk. Precinct 7 voters will have some extra writing to do as they will have the opportunity to add six names as write ins as only six neighbors are on the ballot. Write-in candidates must be Belmont residents so don’t write in people such as Edward Snowden or Vladimir Putin in the ballot.
2014BelmontAnnualTownElectionBallot
Transportation to the polls
Rides to the Polls will be provided by the Belmont League of Women Voters. If you would like a ride to a Belmont polling place, please contact: rides@BelmontLWV.org, or call 617-771-8500. Please include your name, address, precinct (if you know it), phone number, and what time you would like a ride.
Questions about or during voting
Most questions – including who is eligible to vote in Belmont – that arise during voting can be answered by the precinct warden at the polling station. Other questions should be addressed to the Town Clerk’s Office at 617-993-2600.
Polling locations: To find polling locations and precincts, click here.
Where do I vote?
I’m listed as a voter, but it says “Inactive” next to my name. What does that mean?
Inactive status merely means that you did not return this year’s census which is mailed to every household in Belmont, per Massachusetts General Laws AND the voter did not return the pre-paid postcard notifying individuals of the change from active to active status.
Can I still vote even though I’m “Inactive”?
Yes, an “Inactive” voter may still vote but first must provide adequate identification proving the voter’s identity and current place of residence.
How do I return to “active” status?
There are two ways to convert from Inactive to Active Status. One at the polls on Election Day and one by appearing in person at the Town Clerk’s office at least 20 DAYS BEFORE Election Day. Whichever the voter chooses, proper identification must be shown and a form must be completed. Signing and returning the yearly census is the easiest way to keep your name on the active voter list.
When you didn’t return your 2014 Belmont town census form, the Belmont Town Clerk will declared you an “inactive” voter at the Town Election on April 1.
When the Town Clerk declares you an “inactive” voter, you feel down.
When you feel down, you decide to watch a funny movie on Netflix instead of voting.
When you see a funny movie instead of voting, your best friend loses his Town Meeting seat by a single vote to your crazy neighbor.
When your crazy neighbor attends Town Meeting, he leads an movement passing a bylaw allowing residents to construct a moat around their house.
When your neighbors build moats around their homes, Vikings will camp out in your backyard waiting to attack the “castle” next door.
Don’t let Vikings camp out in your backyard. Return your Town Census to the Town Clerk.
The 2014 Town Census forms were mailed to every household back in mid-January. Returning them will keep residents on the active voting list and keeps non-voting residents, including children on the list of Belmont residents for registration in schools, veteran’s bonus, subsidized housing and related benefits, as well as providing information to the 911 emergency system.
Unfortunately, the deadline has passed for residents to return their census to remain active voters which means that those voting on April 1 will still be able to cast a ballot but first must provide adequate identification proving the voter’s identity and current place of residence.