Town Clerk Notes March 2017
Be Counted… Please Return Your 2017 Town Census & License Your Dogs and Cats
Every household in Belmont has been mailed a census form to confirm who lives at each address. In addition, the data returns from the census help to make accurate voting lists; voters who do not return the census by June 1st are by law made inactive and must show identification with their address when they go to vote. Funny enough, being made “inactive” is entirely the result of returning the census, not whether you vote.
Included in the census mailing is a pet license application for use by owners of dogs and cats. Licensing for 2017 is currently underway and must be completed by March 15th to avoid increased fees and $50 violations. Three ways to license – online, by mail or visit the Town Clerk’s office.
If you are renewing a pet’s license and the rabies vaccination is up to date, consider licensing online. You’ll need to know your pet’s current license tag number and have your credit card handy; you’ll pay a convenience fee of $1.22 for a $12 license but the process only takes about a minute and we’ll mail you the tag.
Know Before You Vote – Annual Town Election April 4, 2017
Check your voter registration, party, voting status, precinct (1-8) and polling location now to save you time and avoid frustration on Election Day.
The deadline to register to vote or make any changes to your voter registration (party, home address, name) to be eligible for the Town Election is March 15th . The Town Clerk’s office is open daily 8am to 4pm and will remain open until 8 PM March 15th for walk-in voter registration .
Belmont’s Town-wide officers, including Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Treasurer, Moderator, Board of Assessors, Board of Health, Board of Cemetery Commissioners, Library Trustees and Town Meeting Members in each of our eight precincts, will be on the ballot.To view of draft of the ballot for April 4th, visit:
http://www.belmont-ma.gov/town-clerk/pages/election-april-4-2017-local-election-offices-candidates
Absentee ballots will be available in mid-March. Voters who qualify for absentee ballots by being out of Belmont on Election Day or have a medical issue making voting in person on Election Day too challenging or have a conflict on voting day due to religious reasons, may request an Absentee Ballot be mailed to them or may vote in person at the Town Clerk’s office once ballots have been received.Requests for Absentee Ballots must be in writing and include the voter’s signature.
To find information about your current voter registration, visit:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx
To register to vote using the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s secure online system, visit: https://www.RegisterToVoteMA.com
Or visit the Town Clerk’s webpage at www.belmont-ma.gov, select Town Clerk, Elections: Register to Vote or Check Voter Status
Visit www.belmont-ma.govselect Town Clerk,Elections: Information for Residents and Media or go directly to :http://www.belmont-ma.gov/town-clerk/pages/elections-information-for-residents-media or email to townclerk@belmont-ma.gov for more information.
For more information, feel free to contact the Belmont Town Clerk’s Office at :
townclerk@belmont-ma.gov or telephone 617-993-2600.