2024 Calendar

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY: Tuesday, March 5, 2024, Polls open 7:00 am to 8:00 pm

Sample ballot (Specimen ballot): Democratic / Republican / Libertarian

Early Voting In-Person:

• Saturday, February 24: 9:00 to 11 am, and 3:00 to 5:00 pm
• Monday, February 26: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
• Tuesday, February 27: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
• Wednesday, February 28: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Thursday, February 29: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Voter registration deadline: Saturday, February 24, 2024 @ 5pm (see registration details below

TOWN CAUCUS: Wednesday, March 20, 2024, Town Hall, 7 pm

For nomination papers, please contact the Town Clerk. Nomination Papers are due to the Town Clerk by Thursday, May 2, 2024

TOWN MEETING: Saturday, June 1, 2024

Citizen petitions provide a way for people to add an article to a Town Meeting Warant. Contact the Town Clerk for information.

TOWN ELECTION: Thursday, June 6, 2025, Polls open 11:00 am to 7:00 pm

STATE PRIMARY: Tuesday, September 3, 2024, polls open 7:00 am to 8:00 pm

Sample ballot (Specimen ballot): Democratic / Republican / Libertarian

Early Voting In-Person:

• Saturday, August 24: 9:00 to 11 am, and 3:00 to 5:00 pm
• Monday, August 26: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, August 27: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
• Wednesday, August 28: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Thursday, August 29: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Voter registration deadline: Saturday, August 24, 2024 @ 5pm (see registration details below)

PRESIDENTIAL & STATE ELECTION: Tuesday, November 5, 2024, polls open 7:00 am to 8:00 pm

Sample ballot (Specimen ballot): Will be available in October

Early Voting In-Person:

• Saturday, October 19: 9:00 to 11:00 am, and 3:00 to 5:00 pm
• Monday, October 21: 2:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, October 22: 8:30 to 4:30 pm
• Wednesday, October 23: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Thursday, October 24: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
• Saturday, October 26: 9:00 to 11:00 am, and 3:00 to 5:00 pm
• Monday, October 28: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Tuesday, October 29: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
• Wednesday, October 30: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Thursday, October 31: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Voter registration deadline: Saturday, October 26, 2024 @ 5pm (see registration details below)

Citizen petitions provide a way for people to add an article to a Town Meeting Warant. There are specific requirements and deadlines, so please contact the Town Clerk for information,

There is nothing more important to democracy than free and fair elections. By becoming a poll worker, you will help ensure that all registered voters are able to exercise their right to vote freely, without obstruction or influence.

As an Election Day poll worker, you will work with a team, and each team member will have their own important role. Together, you will help the Town of Conway have a successful and efficient Election Day.

ELECTION DAY POLL WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Help in the setup of the voting location on Election Day.
• Prevent interference with the voting process and assists voters in accordance with the law.
• Check voters in, hand out ballots, and direct voters to voting stations, check voters out.
• Help voters who may have difficulties voting due to sight and physical limitations.
• Oversee the completion of forms for challenged and provisional ballots.
• Read and record the number of ballots cast before, during, and at the close of the polls.
• Help with various assignments required to secure the closing of the polls.

If you are interested in becoming a poll worker contact the Town Clerk at (413) 369-4235 ext. 4 or clerk@conwayma.gov.

The campaign finance law requires local election officials to post locally-filed campaign finance reports on their municipal website if the report discloses activity in excess of $1,000 during a reporting period in one or more of the following categories: 1. contributions received; 2. expenditures made; 3. liabilities incurred; 4. assets acquired; or 5. assets disposed of. 1 The statute requires campaign finance reports be posted within 30 days of a filing deadline. See M.G.L. c. 55, §26.2 Reports must remain posted on a municipal website until Dec. 31 of the sixth year following the date the statement or report was filed. See 970 CMR 1.15.

Currently, no candidates have met this reporting threshold.

Political parties in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are organized, on a basic level, through ward and town committees. Registered voters in Massachusetts are free to run for a position on their local committee and would appear on their party’s presidential primary ballot.

• All ward and town committees are required to notify the Secretary of the Commonwealth of the number of members they wish to have elected to the committee on the presidential primary ballot by Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

• Nomination papers will be available to all potential candidates at the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office (1 Ashburton Place, Boston) on Tuesday August 8, 2023.

  • Candidates for local committee may run as individuals or as part of a slate with at least two other candidates. Slates will be listed before individuals on the ballot.

  • Candidates for local committees must have been a registered voter in their town or ward and enrolled in their party for at least 90 days prior to the filing deadline or be a recently registered voter in that party. This means that candidates must be enrolled in their party by Wednesday, August 23, 2023. Candidates must not have been enrolled in a different party within the last year.

• Candidates must submit nomination papers with the appropriate number of signatures with their local board of registrars or election commissioners by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 10, 2023 in order to be certified.

  • 5 signatures are required from registered party members from the relevant town or ward in order for a candidate or slate to appear on the ballot. It is recommended that candidates acquire more than the required number of signatures.

• Nomination papers must be picked up from local boards of registrars or election commissioners and filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.

• The presidential primary, at which candidates for local committees will be elected, will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Check your voter registration status.

• Online - Click here to register through the Secretary of State’s voter registration website. You will receive a confirmation in the mail when your registration is processed.
• By Mail - Click here to download a registration form that can be printed and mailed to the Town Clerk. You can also call the Town Clerk to have a form mailed to you.
• In Person - You can register at Town Hall during open hours or you may contact the Town Clerk to make an appointment.

Make sure you complete your town census every year to remain an active voter in Conway. Contact the Town Clerk with questions or to request a blank form.

In most elections in Massachusetts, voters can choose whether they would prefer to vote in person or by mail.

No-excuse early voting by mail is available in all state elections, state primaries, presidential primaries, and most local elections. These ballots are known as “Vote by Mail” ballots and can be requested using the Vote by Mail Application.

Excuse-required absentee voting by mail is available in all elections, to those who qualify. While early Vote by Mail ballots are more common, there are special circumstances where you may need to use the Absentee Ballot Application to apply for an absentee ballot instead. Find more information about absentee ballot eligibility under “Absentee Ballots,” below.

Applying for your Ballot

To request your Vote by Mail ballot, you will need to submit a Vote by Mail application.

You may submit your Vote by Mail application to your local election office:

• By mail
• By email
• In person

Vote by Mail application can be downloaded or printed from this website. Further, any written request with your signature is an acceptable application. You can simply write a signed letter to your local election office to apply for your ballot.

Applications can be submitted by mail, email, or in person, but they must include a signature that can be compared to your hand-written signature. Electronic signatures, scanned applications, and photos of applications are acceptable.

Typed signatures on applications cannot be accepted, unless you are a voter who requires accommodations due to physical disability. If you are unable to sign your application or mark your ballot by hand due to a disability, please visit our page on Voting for Persons with Disabilities for information on requesting an accommodation.

Absentee ballots can be requested in the same manner as early Vote by Mail ballots, using the Absentee Ballot Application.

Application Deadlines

Any mail-in ballot must be requested in writing by 5 p.m. on the 5th business day before the election. Your application can only be accepted if it has reached your local election office by the deadline.

Apply as early as possible, especially if your ballot will need to be mailed out of town. The U.S. Postal Service recommends allowing up to 7 days for mail delivery. To ensure you receive your ballot with enough time to mail it back, you should apply 2-3 weeks before Election Day.

Absentee Ballots

To qualify for an absentee ballot, you must:

• Be away from your city/town on Election Day; or
• Have a disability that keeps you from voting at your polling place; or
• Have a religious belief that prevents you from voting at your polling place on Election Day

Absentee voters use the same ballots as early Vote by Mail voters and have the same deadlines for returning their ballots. Most voters who qualify for an absentee ballot can choose instead to apply for an early Vote by Mail ballot. There are some times that an absentee ballot application is needed. You should fill out an absentee ballot application if:

• You qualify for an absentee ballot and you are voting in a local election in a city or town that has opted out of Vote by Mail for that election; or
• You are a U.S. citizen residing overseas; or
• You are on active military duty; or
• You are currently incarcerated for a reason other than a felony conviction; or
• You are requesting an emergency absentee ballot due to hospitalization.

Local Elections

State law allows cities and towns to opt out of no-excuse early voting by mail in local elections. A city or town can only opt out of Vote by Mail for a local election after the city council or board of selectmen hold a public hearing and take a recorded vote to do so at least 45 days before the election.

If your community opts out of Vote by Mail for your local election, a Vote by Mail application will not be valid for that election. Check with your local election office about whether your community has opted out of Vote by Mail in an upcoming local election.

If you qualify for an absentee ballot and you would like to vote by mail in a local election without early Vote by Mail ballots, use the Absentee Ballot Application to apply for your ballot.

Emergency Absentee Ballots

If you have been admitted to a healthcare facility within 1 week of the election, you may use the absentee ballot application to designate someone of your choice to deliver a ballot to you. The person you designate to deliver your ballot will need to bring the signed application to your local election office, pick up your absentee ballot, bring it to you, and return it for you by the close of polls on Election Day. Emergency ballots may be requested up until the close of polls.

Military & Overseas Voters

If you are a U.S citizen residing out of the country or on active military duty, you may use the Federal Post Card Application or the Massachusetts Absentee Ballot Application to request your ballot. More information is available on our page for Voting for Military & Overseas Citizens.

Vote by Mail Accommodations

If you have a disability that prevents you from marking a paper ballot independently, you may qualify to use the Accessible Vote by Mail system. Visit our Accessible Vote by Mail page for more information and to find an Accessible Vote by Mail Application.

Returning your Ballot

There are several options for returning your ballot. You may return your ballot by:

• Mailing it back using the envelope provided; or
• Hand-delivering your ballot to your local election office

Ballots cannot be dropped off at a polling place on Election Day, however, they can be brought to the Town Clerk's office.

Ballots must reach your local election office by the close of polls on Election Day in order to be counted.

Use our Track My Ballot tool to check the status of your ballot. The tracker will show you the date your ballot was mailed, the date it was returned, and whether your ballot was accepted or rejected.

Voting in Person

You can still vote in person if you’ve applied to vote by mail. You can vote at an early voting location or your polling place on Election Day.

You can’t vote in person if your ballot has been accepted by your local election office. You can’t take your ballot back or vote again.

Use our website to track your ballot status. If your ballot hasn’t been accepted by Election Day, you may vote in person at your polling place. If your ballot arrives at your local election office after you’ve voted, the mail-in ballot will be rejected.

In most elections in Massachusetts, voters can choose to vote by mail. Accessible vote by mail ballots are available for certain voters. If you are blind or have a vision impairment, have a mobility or dexterity disability, or have another disability that makes it difficult for you to mark a paper ballot, you can request an accessible vote by mail ballot.

Applying for your Ballot

To request your Vote by Mail ballot, you will need to submit a Vote by Mail application to your local election office:

• By mail
• By email
• In person

Vote by Mail applications can be downloaded or printed here. Further, any written request with your signature is an acceptable application. You can simply write a signed letter to your local election office to apply for your ballot. You must include in your application or letter a statement saying that you need to use an accessible vote by mail ballot as an accommodation due to a disability that prevents you from marking a paper ballot. To access the accessible vote by mail system, you must provide an email address.

Applications can be submitted by mail, email, or in person. Your application must include a signature that can be compared to your hand-written signature. If you are unable to sign your application due to a disability, you may type your name and include a statement that you are unable to sign your application due to a disability.

Application Deadlines

Any mail-in ballot must be requested in writing by 5 p.m. on the 5th business day before the election. Your application can only be accepted if it has reached your local election office by the deadline. Apply as early as possible.

Voting by Accessible Vote by Mail Ballot

Once your application has been received by your local election office, they will send two emails to the email address provided on your application. One will include instructions for accessing the system and returning your completed ballot and the second will give you a unique access PIN to use to login.

You can use the accessible vote by mail system to mark your ballot using a computer or mobile device. Once you’re done voting, you can return your ballot electronically or print your completed ballot.

Returning Your Accessible Vote by Mail Ballot Electronically

To return the ballot electronically, you will need to review the ballot materials and ballot before submitting the ballot to your local election official using the secure web portal. Ballots returned electronically must be received by the close of polls on Election Day.

Returning Your Ballot by Mail or In Person

To return a ballot by mail, in a secure drop box, or in person at your local election office, you must be able to print your ballot. To print and return your ballot, you must inform your local election office so they can send you a secrecy envelope and return mailing envelope. Your request for the materials must be received by the local election office by 5 p.m. on the 5th business day before the election.

Once you have printed your ballot, fold it into thirds. If your ballot is more than one page, fold all the pages together. Seal your folded ballot in the yellow secrecy envelope provided by your local election office.

The secrecy envelope will have a signature line marked by a hole punched in the envelope. Complete the affidavit by signing to the right of the hole punch. If you are unable to sign the secrecy envelope by hand, you must include the electronic Affidavit of Compliance generated by the accessible vote by mail system.

Put your sealed secrecy envelope (and the Affidavit of Compliance if needed) into the white mailing envelope. Seal the envelope. The mailing envelope will already be addressed to your local election office and have the postage prepaid.

You can return your ballot by:

• Mailing it back using the envelope provided
• Hand-delivering your ballot to your local election office
• Dropping your ballot off at an early voting location during early voting hours

Ballots cannot be dropped off at a polling place on Election Day, however, they can be brought to the Town Clerk's office.
Ballots must reach your local election office by the close of polls on Election Day in order to be counted.

As of January 1, 2020, if you are a Massachusetts citizen conducting certain transactions through the Registry of Motor Vehicles, MassHealth, and the Commonwealth Health Connector and you do not opt out of registering to vote, you will automatically become registered to vote.

If you do not opt out of registering, you will automatically be registered to vote when you:

• Apply for or renew a driver's license
• Apply for or renew a learner's permit
• Apply for or renew a state ID
• Apply for MassHealth benefits online, in person, or by phone.
• Apply for health insurance through the Commonwealth Health Connector

If you do not wish to be registered to vote, or you do not wish to be registered at the address you use with the RMV, MassHealth, or the Health Connector, you may opt out of registering.

FAQs

Q. Do I still need to register to vote?
A. If you are not registered to vote where you currently live, you should submit a voter registration form now. You will not be automatically registered to vote until you apply for/renew your driver's license or state ID, or apply for health insurance through MassHealth or the Health Connector. You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person at any city or town hall.

Q. How does automatic voter registration work?
A. If you don't opt out of registering to vote with the RMV, MassHealth, or the Health Connector, and that agency has determined that you are a United States citizen, then your name, address, and date of birth will be sent to your local election office so you can be added to the voter list. Your local election official will mail you a notice confirming that you are registered to vote within 2-3 weeks.

Q. How do I opt out?
A. You will be asked in writing or verbally if you do not want to register to vote. You may opt out of registering to vote at that time.

Q. If I don't opt out and I am already registered to vote, will I be registered twice?
A. No. If you are already registered to vote at your current address, nothing will change. If you are registered to vote at a different address in Massachusetts, your address will be updated with your new registration.

Q. What if I am not the one completing my health insurance application?
A. Automatic voter registration does not apply to applications completed on another's behalf. If you are applying for a family, only the person who signs the form will be registered to vote.

Q. What if I move?
A. If you are re-applying for health insurance or a driver's license when you update your address, you will be automatically registered to vote at your new address if you do not opt out. If you are merely updating your address, you should submit a new voter registration form when you move. You can update your address for voter registration purposes online.

Q. How do I choose a political party?
A. If you are already registered to vote in Massachusetts, automatic voter registration will not change your party affiliation. If you are not already registered to vote in Massachusetts, you will automatically be registered as Unenrolled (commonly referred to as "Independent"). You will be notified of the opportunity to join a party when you receive confirmation of your voter registration.

Q. What if I am not a U.S. citizen?
A. If you are not a citizen, you are not eligible to vote and you should opt out. The RMV, MassHealth, and Health Connector collect information about lawful presence in the United States and they will not submit names to local election officials of any persons they have determined are not U.S. citizens.