Election & Voter Resources
Thank you for visiting the Town of Fairhaven Town Clerk’s Election Resources page. The goal of this page is to provide you with upcoming election information to encourage participation in every election. This page contains general information about upcoming elections, if you’re looking for more specific information, click the links to the election pages below. Contact the Town Clerk’s office at 508-979-4023 Ext. 3 with questions or concerns.
ANNUAL ELECTION, MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2024
POLLS OPEN 10:00am-8:00pm
All precincts vote at the Recreation Center, 227 Huttleston Avenue
Specimen Ballot P1 Specimen Ballot P2 Specimen Ballot P3 Specimen Ballot P4 Specimen Ballot P5 Specimen Ballot P6
AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2023, NOMINATION PAPERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TOWNWIDE ELECTED POSITIONS AND TOWN MEETING MEMBERS.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- Monday, January 22, 2024—5:00pm – Last day and hour for Town Meeting Member incumbents to file written request for re-election with the Town Clerk.
- Thursday, February 8, 2024—5:00pm – Last day to obtain nomination papers.
- Monday, February 12, 2024—5:00pm – Last day and hour for filing all nomination papers with the Registrar of Voters (Town Clerk’s Office).
- Monday, February 26, 2024—5:00pm – Last day and hour for nomination papers to be certified by Registrar of Voters (Town Clerk’s Office).
- Wednesday, February 28, 2024—5:00pm – Last day and hour to object to or to withdraw nomination papers.
- Friday, March 22, 2024 — Last day to register to vote for the Town Election. The Town Clerk’s Office will be open from 8:30am to 8:00pm on this day.
- Monday, March 25, 2024 — Last day to submit Vote-By-Mail applications to the Town Clerk’s Office.
- Monday, March 25, 2024—Warrant must be posted at all polling locations.
- MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2024 — ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION — POLLS OPEN 10:00am-8:00pm
Polling places for the Town Elections are as follows:
Precinct 1: Recreation Center Precinct 4: Recreation Center
Precinct 2: Recreation Center Precinct 5: Recreation Center
Precinct 3: Recreation Center Precinct 6: Recreation Center
You may register to vote any day from 8:30am to 4:30pm—Monday through Friday until 8:00pm, Friday, March 22, 2024.
Mail-in Voter Registration Forms are available at the Town Clerk’s Office, the Millicent Library and State and Federal offices.
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2024
Voter Registration Deadline:
The Presidential Primary Voter Registration Deadline is February 24, 2024.
Vote by Mail Application Deadline:
The Presidential Primary Vote by Mail Application Deadline is February 27, 2024.
Election Day Polling Hours for Presidential Primary: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Rec Center-all precincts
Democratic Presidential Primary Specimen Ballot Libertarian Presidential Primary Specimen Ballot Republican Presidential Primary Specimen Ballot
Voter Resources
Registering to Vote:
You may submit an application to register or pre-register to vote in Massachusetts if:
You are a citizen of the United States; and
You are 16 years old; and
You are not currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction.
If you meet the above requirements, you may apply online, by mail, or in-person.
The deadline to register to vote in any election or regular town meeting is twenty (10) days prior to the date of the election or meeting. The deadline to register to vote in a special town meeting is ten (10) days prior to the special town meeting.
Check your voter status to see if you are eligible to vote or need to register.
Registering Online:
In order to register to vote online, you must have a signature on file with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. If you currently have a Massachusetts driver's license or state ID card, you may use the online voter registration application to register, update your address, or change your party affiliation. Voter registration forms submitted online must be submitted by midnight on the date of the voter registration deadline. (See deadlines above)
Registering by Mail:
If you do not qualify to register to vote online, or if you would prefer to register by mail, you may download the voter registration form. The form must be completed, signed, and delivered to the Town Clerk's office. Voter registration forms submitted by mail must be postmarked no later than the voter registration deadline. (See deadlines above)
Registering In-person:
If you would like to register in-person, you may do so at any local election office, as well as the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office. Voter registration is also available at the Registry of Motor Vehicles and at certain public assistance agencies. Voter registration forms completed in-person are valid as of the day that they are signed.
Automatic Voter Registration:
If you are a U.S. citizen applying for or renewing a driver's license or state ID at the RMV, or applying for health insurance through MassHealth or the Commonwealth Health Connector, you will be automatically registered to vote, unless you opt out of registering.
If you opt out of registering to vote, or if your citizenship has not been confirmed by the RMV, MassHealth, or the Health Connector, you will not be registered to vote. If you do not opt out and your citizenship is confirmed, your name, address, and date of birth will be sent to your local election official to be added to the voter list and you will receive mailed confirmation of your registration within 2-3 weeks.
Absentee Ballot Information:
Download the Absentee Ballot Application here.
Eligibility:
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 (which includes any person taking precautions relative to COVID-19); or
Religious belief
Applying for Absentee Ballots:
Absentee ballots must be requested in writing by either the voter or the voter's family member. If you would like to request an absentee ballot, you may submit an application or a signed letter to the Town Clerk's Office. If you are requesting an absentee ballot for a family member, be sure to submit the request to the voter's local election official.
When completing the application, you may indicate whether you are requesting a ballot for a specific election, or for all elections within the calendar year. Please note that absentee ballot applications expire at the end of each calendar year. If you are a voter with a permanent physical disability, you may file a note from your doctor to that effect with your local election official. Voters with permanent physical disabilities are sent completed applications at the beginning of each year, which must be signed and returned to their local election official.
Absentee ballot applications must be received by 12 p.m. on the day before the election, unless the day before the election is a holiday or a Sunday, in which case the application must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the last business day before the election.
Applications may be submitted in person, by mail, fax, or by e-mail; however, the local election official must be able to view the signature of the person requesting the ballot. If the application is being submitted by e-mail, a scanned copy of the request must be submitted.
VBM and Absentee ballots may be returned via mail, or dropped off in the Town Clerk's office, or through the mail slot located on the outside door of the clerk's office. All VBM/Absentee ballots returned by mail, in person, or by drop box must be received in the Town Clerk's Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.IMPORTANT: When returning your Absentee Ballot, you MUST return it inside of the envelope (AV7) provided with the top line signed. If you have sent your ballot back without the signed envelope, and you also did not put your name or address on the return envelope, we CANNOT count your ballot, because there is no way to know who has voted. If you think you may have sent your ballot without the inner envelope, please check on the Mass.gov website to see if your ballot has been accepted. Track My Ballot: Search (state.ma.us) If it is not listed as "accepted" please call the Town Clerk's office.
In-person Early Voting:
In-person Early Voting will be held for 1 week prior to a State Primary Election, and for 2 weeks prior to a State General Election. Dates, times, and location will be announced by the Town Clerk's Office.
When Absentee Ballots are Counted:
Except for ballots which are rejected as defective, all absentee ballots are cast and counted by the poll workers on Election Day. Absentee ballots are included in the final tallies, and are counted whether or not an election contains a close race.
Additional SEC Website Resources:
Election Schedules
Annual Town Election - Election Schedule
| Date | Deadline |
|---|---|
Friday, March 22, 2024, 8PM | Last day to register voters for the Annual Town Election. The Town Clerk's Office will be open from 8:30AM-8:00PM this day. |
Friday, March 25, 2024 | Last day to request a MAIL-IN absentee ballot for the Annual Town Election. |
Friday, March 25, 2024 | Warrant must be posted. |
Friday, March 29, 2024, 12PM | Last day/time to request an IN-PERSON Absentee Ballot in the The Town Clerk's Office. |
About the 2024 Elections:
The Presidential Primary will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
The Annual Town Election will be held on Monday, April 1, 2024.
The State Primary will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
The Presidential Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Voter Registration Deadline:
The Presidential Primary Voter Registration Deadline is February 24, 2024.
The Annual Town Election Voter Registration Deadline is March 22, 2024.
The State Primary Voter Registration Deadline is August 24, 2024.
The Presidential Election Voter Registration Deadline is October 26, 2024.
Vote by Mail Application Deadline:
The Presidential Primary Vote by Mail Application Deadline is February 27, 2024.
The Annual Town Election Vote by Mail Application Deadline is March 25, 2024.
The State Primary Vote by Mail Application Deadline is August 26, 2024.
The Presidential Election will be held on October 29, 2024.
Election Day Polling Hours for Presidential Primary, State Primary and General Election: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Rec Center-all precincts
Election Day Polling Hours for Annual Town Election: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Rec Center-all precincts
Where do I vote?
*****PLEASE NOTE*****
ALL Precincts will vote at the Fairhaven Recreation Center, 227 Huttleston Ave.
The Town of Fairhaven Precinct Boundary Map can be found here. (This map will be updated with the 2020 Census Re-precincting information as soon as we receive the final approved information from the State)
| Precinct | Location | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Precinct ONE | Recreation Center | 227 Huttleston Ave. |
| Precinct TWO | Recreation Center | 227 Huttleston Ave. |
| Precinct THREE | Recreation Center | 227 Huttleston Ave. |
| Precinct FOUR | Recreation Center | 227 Huttleston Ave. |
| Precinct FIVE | Recreation Center | 227 Huttleston Ave. |
| Precinct SIX | Recreation Center | 227 Huttleston Ave. |
Additional Information
How can I run for a Town Elected position?
Nomination papers are available as of December 1, 2023 at the Town Clerk's Office located inside Town Hall at 40 Center St. Nomination papers for town-wide office election require 50 certified signatures.
Completed nomination papers with signatures must be submitted to the Town Clerk's office by Monday, February 12, 2024 at 5:00PM.
Running For Office in Fairhaven - Quick Checklist
Campaign Finance Packet
How do I get on the ballot as a Town Meeting Member?
Nomination papers are available as of December 1, 2023 at the Town Clerk's Office located inside Town Hall at 40 Center St. Nomination papers for for Town Meeting Member election require 10 certified signatures from your precinct only.
Completed nomination papers with signatures must be submitted to the Town Clerk's office no later than by Monday, February 12, 2024 at 5:00PM.
Town Meeting Members who seek re-election should file a written request with the Town Clerk no later Monday, January 22, 2024 at 5:00PM.
Transportation Assistance
The Fairhaven Council on Aging is providing transportation services to seniors in need. Call 508-979-4029 at least one day in advance to setup a ride.
Results of Prior Elections
2024 Annual Town Election
2024 Presidential Primary
2023 Special Town Election
2023 Annual Town Election
2023 Town Meeting Member Tally Results
2022 Annual Town Election
2022 Town Meeting Member Tally Results
2021 Annual Town Election
2021 Town Meeting Member Tally Results
2020 Annual Town Election
2020 Town Meeting Member Tally Results
