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2008 TOWN MEETING AND TOWN ELECTION INFORMATION
Annual Town Meeting - convenes May 5, 2008
7 p.m. Hale School
Annual Election May 13th
Polls are Open 7 am - 8 pm
Hale School
Nomination papers are available for voters interested in running for office.
Click here for more information and positions to be elected.
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Voter Registration
April 15, 2008 is the last day to register to vote, change political parties or unenroll from a party for the May annual town meeting and annual election.
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Please note:
Effective July 10, 2007, the polling location for ALL Stow voters is the
Hale Middle School Gymnasium, 55 Hartley Road.
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ABSENTEE BALLOT INFORMATION
Absentee ballots for the May 13, 2008 Annual Town Election are available after April 22, 2008 for registered voters who are unable to vote at the polls on May 13th due to:
absence from town between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day;
a physical disability preventing the voter from going to the polling place;
or religious belief.
A voter must fill out an absentee ballot application prior to receiving an absentee ballot. Please contact the Town Clerk to have an absentee ballot application mailed to you, stop by the Town Clerk’s office to fill out the form or download the form at http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absbalap.pdf
The absentee application must be received by noon on May 12th, in order to vote by absentee ballot in the May annual election. Once the application is received the absentee ballot may be voted in the Town Clerk’s office or mailed to the voter. If the absentee ballot is to be mailed to the voter, be sure to submit the application as early as possible and allow at least 3 days to receive it in the mail. Also, be sure to allow enough time to return the absentee ballot prior to the close of polls on election day.
Please contact the Town Clerk’s office for more information. 978-897-4514 x 1.
Office hours are Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m
Closed for lunch 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
May 15, 2007.
Click here for important infomation about 2007 Town Meeting from Moderator Ed Newman
Results of Special Town Meeting December 5, 2007 .....Click here
380 voters checked-in for the special town meeting.
There are 4403 registered voters in Stow.
2007 Annual Town Meeting
convened May 7th, 7 p.m., Hale School
Second Session convened May 8th, 7 p.m.
Town Meeting Summary
Monday, May 7th
The first session of the Stow Annual Town Meeting concluded at 10:19 p.m.
Town meeting:
voted to approve articles 1 - 35,
voted to take up articles 36 - 40 as the first order of business on Tuesday, May 8th.
voted no action on articles 41 & 42
voted to approve articles 43 - 46
voted no action on article 47
voted to approve articles 48 - 50
Tuesday, May 8th
The second session of the Stow Annual Town Meeting concluded at
Town meeting:
Voted to approve articles 36 & 37
Article 38 - did not pass
voted no action on articles 39 & 40
Wednesday, May 9th
The third session of the Stow Annual Town Meeting concluded at
Town meeting:
Voted to approve articles 51- 69
Click here for the 2007 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
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From the Town Meeting Handbook
The open Town Meeting method of local self-government is deeply embedded in Stow's life as a town. The enduring principle underlying Town Meetings is that, though the minority shall be heard and absentees protected, the majority will decide. Whatever the perception of the open Town Meeting, it is difficult to see how citizens can be more perfectly represented than by each registered voter having the opportunity to participate fully and directly in making decisions which:
· Elect the Town's officers, paid and unpaid,
· Establish salaries for the town’s paid positions,
· Vote to appropriate money to operate the Town,
· Vote on local statutes, called bylaws.
Many such decisions are controlled by the State, such as minimum funding for education under the Education Reform law. But within the limits allowed by State law, the open Town Meeting provides an example of democracy combined with self-responsibility. When we meet as a Town Meeting, we become the legislative body and make decisions that impact all residents of our community. It is not unusual for the vote on an article to be close, therefore a belief that your comments and vote do not count is not valid. Voter’s comments during debate can impact the thinking and voting for many voters. Attend Town Meeting, listen to the presentations, participate in the debate, and vote. Our town needs your participation at Town Meeting.
As always, we are interested in your feedback on what works well and what needs improvement at Town Meetings.
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