A Guide To Town Meeting
Ready to run for Town Meeting? Take the pledge!
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Town Meeting is part of our town’s government! They help approve the projects and spending that goes on in the town, local laws, and other activities that help keep Norwood running. They’re an elected group of volunteers, right here in Norwood! If you run for election to Town Meeting you can be a part of Norwood’s town government.
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Any Norwood resident who is a US citizen and is registered to vote can run for election to be a part of Town Meeting.
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Town Meeting is supposed to represent everyone who lives in Norwood. It’s really important that there are people elected to Town Meeting of all the different backgrounds and life experiences that exist in Norwood. When you volunteer for Town Meeting, you’re helping to ensure that discussions and decisions include the voice of as many members of our community as possible! Each year there are empty seats that go unfilled, so we need citizens just like you to run for election!
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No, most Town Meeting elections aren’t competitive enough to need any of that. If you’re someone who cares about your community just go ahead and give it a try and get your family and friends to vote for you!
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The election for Town Meeting happens every year, on the very first Monday of April. You can get your name added to the ballot between January and February. For more details, scroll down this page!
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After you’re elected, it’s usually in the Spring and Fall. It starts on a Monday night, and then on Thursday if not everything can be finished in a single night. There are usually only a handful of meetings per year. Each meeting takes place in the evenings for a few hours.
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The meetings are typically held at the Norwood High School auditorium or gym unless otherwise noted.
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Many towns in Massachusetts have a Town Meeting form of government! Check with your local town government on their website or by visiting your Town Hall to learn more about how you can get involved in your community.
BENEFITS OF BEING ELECTED TO TOWN MEETING
Gives your community a voice
Give input on topics that are important to you
Volunteering experience for your resume
Get behind the scenes info about projects and proposals in the Town
Learn new skills & grow your knowledge
Meet other people from your town and make new friends
Be a part of Norwood history
HOW TO RUN FOR TOWN MEETING
THE QUICK WAY
Did you know that each year many seats to Town Meeting go unfilled? That means getting into Town Meeting is as easy as writing yourself in!
On your ballot, find the line under “Town Meeting Members” and write your name and address, and then fill out the oval beside your name.
Super easy right?
But what happens if many other people also do the same thing? Well that’s when you probably want to do it the better way . . .
THE BETTER WAY
For better odds of getting elected to Town Meeting, it’s a good idea to get your name on the ballot officially. It’s free, and you just need to do 3 steps to make it happen:
Pull Nomination Papers
Gather Signatures
Turn in the papers before the deadline
STEP 1 - Pull Nomination Papers
Each year around January the Town Clerk makes Nomination Papers available for those who want to appear on the ballot for Town Meeting. Simply visit the Town Hall and go to the Town Clerk’s office on the 2nd floor, and ask for nomination papers to run for Town Meeting. If you don’t know your voting district, be sure to ask the Town Clerk what district you are part of.
STEP 2 - Get Signatures
Next you’ll need to get at least 10 registered voters to sign your papers who live in the same district as you. That’s usually in the neighborhood where you live. It’s a good idea to get more than 10 just in case! They can be your friends, family, neighbors, anyone who lives in the same district as you and is a registered voter. You’d be surprised how many voters from your district that you know!
There are even “signature parties” held by local civics groups where you can bring your papers and meet residents from your district who are willing to sign nomination papers.
Another way to get signatures is going door to door in your neighborhood. Many people are willing to hear you out and give you a chance if you say that you’re running for Town Meeting and have your nomination papers with you. Norwood residents like people who volunteer in the Community! Signing your papers isn’t an automatic vote for you, it just gives you the chance to run, and most people are willing to give you a chance. It’s great exercise, you get to know your neighbors, and before you know it you’ll have plenty of signatures!
STEP 3 - Turn In Papers Before Deadline
When you pull your nomination papers, the Town Clerk will give you a deadline that you have to turn your papers back in by. Be sure to bring the papers back in time! Pay attention to the closing time of the Town Hall too so you don’t miss the chance to turn them in. Bring them back to the Town Clerk’s office and they will give you a receipt.
The Town Clerk will then take time to verify that all the signatures on your papers are legitimate. Each person who signs must be a registered Norwood voter, and be from your particular voting district. This is why it’s a good idea to gather extra names in case anybody forgot to update their voter registration or their signature is too hard to read. Having extra signatures ensures that you won’t be disqualified for having too few signatures if some of the people who signed aren’t eligible to sign for you.
That’s it! As long as you got 10 signatures and turned your papers in on time, your name will appear on the official election ballot for the Town that year!
HOW TO GET ELECTED
You turned in enough signatures and your name will appear on the ballot. Now what?
It’s a good idea to tell your neighbors, friends, family, and people who live in your part of town that you’re running for Town Meeting!
Town Meeting usually isn’t so competitive that you need to hold campaign rallies or events, just get the word out to people in your area and remind them to go vote on election day.
You can increase the odds that people will vote for you among all the other names by getting to know local civically active Norwood residents. Tell them what district you’re in and that you’re running for Town Meeting. You can find active civics groups and voters:
At town events and festivals!
On social media and the web
On Norwood Community Media
In the local free newspapers
And many other places. Good luck, and thanks for getting involved in the Norwood Community!