2024 Annual Town Election
General Voting Information
The Town of Freetown has over 7,260 voters (as of February 24, 2024), divided into three voting precincts based on address. All precincts (Precincts 1, 2 & 3) vote at the Freetown Elementary School, 43 Bullock Road, in East Freetown.
| 2024 Annual Town Election | |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, April 1, 2024 |
| Election Day Polling Location | Precincts 1, 2 & 3: Freetown Elementary School - 43 Bullock Road, East Freetown |
| Election Day Hours | 12pm - 8pm |
| Deadline for Final Voter Registration | 5pm on Friday, March 22, 2024 |
| Vote by Mail Application Deadline | 5pm on Monday, March 25, 2024 |
| In-Person Early Voting Time Frame | In-Person Early Voting will not be offered for this election |
Nomination Papers
Nomination papers are available at the Office of the Town Clerk beginning at 9am on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 through 5pm on Thursday, February 8, 2024, with the last day and time to submit them to the Office of the Town Clerk being 5pm Monday, February 12, 2024. Registered voters of the Town of Freetown will elect the following positions:
| One Selectman & Personnel Board Member (3 year term) | One Assessor (3 year term) | One Board of Health Member (3 year term) |
| One Cemetery Commission Member (3 year term) | Two Finance Committee Members (3 year terms) | One Finance Committee Member (2 year unexpired term) |
One Highway Surveyor (3 year term) | One Housing Authority Member (5 year term) | Two Library Trustees (3 year terms) |
| One Moderator (3 year term) | One Planning Board Member (5 year term) | One Planning Board Member (2 year unexpired term) |
One Town Clerk (3 year term) | One Tree Warden (3 year term) | One Water & Sewer Commissioner (3 year term) |
| One Regional School Committee Members - Freetown (3 year term) | Two Regional School Committee Member - Lakeville (3 year terms)* Nomination papers for Lakeville seats are available from the Town of Lakeville only. |
A public notice showing the same is available below. A listing of all prospective candidates who have pulled nomination papers is also available below.
Final Voter Registration & Absentee Ballot Information
The deadline for voters not yet registered to vote in Freetown is 5pm on Friday, March 22nd, 2024. The Board of Registrars will be open from 12pm-5pm on that day. No names can be added to the Voter's List except to correct omissions made by clerical error or omission after the Final Voter Registration date.
Residents can check their voter registration or register to vote any time at the Secretary of the Commonwealth's site.
If you will be away from Freetown on Election Day, have a religious belief that prevents you from voting at the polls on Election Day or have a disability that prevents you from voting at the polls, you qualify to vote absentee for the Annual Town Election, either by mail or in person at the Office of the Town Clerk. Mail-In Absentee Ballot applications will be available after January 1, 2024, and must be received by 5pm on Monday, March 25, 2024. You can also vote absentee in-person during regular business hours at Town Hall by 5:00pm on Friday, March 29, 2024 (the Office of the Town Clerk will be open late for in-person absentee voting that day). Absentee ballots are normally available 3 weeks before an election.
Helpful Links
- Verify your party enrollment (Link will take you to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ website)
- Change your party enrollment (link will take you to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Online Voter Registration System website)
Please note, the Annual Town Election is a non-partisan election. Party enrollment only impacts the ballot you receive in a Primary. These links are provided for your reference and convenience only.
Sample Ballots
The sample ballot for the 2024 Annual Town Election will be available in March 2024.
Vote By Mail
All registered are voters qualified to vote by mail in the 2024 Annual Town Election. In January 2024, a postcard application will be mailed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office to all registered voters who wish to use this postcard to apply for all state/federal primaries and elections. Voters who select ALL ELECTIONS on these postcards will automatically receive a ballot for the Annual Town Election. Voters who did not return the postcard sent be the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office but would still like to receive a Vote by Mail ballot for the Annual Town Election can apply online at VoteInMA.com, a website set up by the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office, or by downloading and returning a paper application, which can be downloaded here.
Voters are encouraged to apply early to allow ample time for processing your application and for the postal services to deliver your ballot to you. Voters who receive a vote by mail ballot but have not returned it may appear to vote in person at an early voting site (if applicable) or on election day to cast a ballot. Any voter that has returned a vote by mail ballot (or voted early in person, if applicable) cannot vote in-person on Election Day.
Applications can be returned by mail (postage is pre-paid on the postcard application mailed to you) or placed in the white drop box outside of the Freetown Town Hall (3 North Main Street in Assonet).
IMPORTANT: The application must be signed to process your application. Questions can be directed to elections@freetownma.gov.
Return of Vote by Mail Ballots
Mailed ballots will include a postage pre-paid return ballot envelope that is addressed directly to the Office of the Town Clerk (Town Hall, 3 North Main Street, Assonet). You must return your ballot by mail in accordance with the deadlines below, or hand deliver your ballot to the Office of the Town Clerk or by placing it in the white drop box outside of Town Hall before polls close on Election Day (8pm on Monday, April 1, 2024).
Ballots can NOT be returned to the polling location on Election Day – they must be returned to the white drop box outside of Town Hall (3 North Main Street in Assonet). All ballots dropped off on Election Day will be processed and brought to the polls to be cast by the Elections staff (same as the absentee ballot process)
Voters who receive a vote by mail ballot but who have not returned it prior to Election Day may appear to vote in-person and cast a ballot on Election Day. Any voter that has returned a vote by mail ballot (or who voted early in person) is not permitted to appear in to vote in person on Election Day.
Deadlines for Ballots to be Returned and Counted
Ballots returned in-person to the Office of the Town Clerk or to the white drop box in front of Town Hall (3 North Main Street in Assonet) must be received by 8PM on April 1, 2024. A postmark by Election Day is not sufficient, ballots must be received by that date.
Please note that the US Postal delivery services are not consistent and delivery can range from 3 to 11 days. As Election Day approaches, is highly recommended that voters return their ballots in the white drop box outside of Town Hall by 8PM on Election Day to ensure it is counted or allow ample time for delivery by the US Postal Service.
Vote Early In Person
In-Person Early Voting will not be an option for the 2024 Annual Town Election. Residents wishing to vote ahead of Election Day should utilize Vote By Mail, or if qualified, Absentee voting.
Know Before You Go To Vote
Educated voters will reduce time in the voting booths, reduce lines and crowding at the voting site.
Important: please keep your ballot dry and free from hand sanitizers; wet ballots or ballots with hand sanitizer on them can lead to issues with the vote tabulating machines.
General Voting FAQ
- Am I a registered voter?
You can check your voter registration status on line (link will take you to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ website). If you are NOT a registered voter, you can register to vote online (link will take you to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Online Voter Registration System website)
- Is my voter registration status “active”?
You can check your voter registration status on line (link will take you to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ website).
- What is my voting precinct?
A precinct map for the Town of Freetown can be found at freetownma.gov/votingprecincts
- What will I be voting on?
Sample ballots can be viewed approximately 45 days prior to the primary and the election below.
- Will I need an ID?
Bring an ID. Some voters may need to show an ID to vote. Additionally, using an ID at check in will help expedite the check in/look-up process – our election workers will thank you!
