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.
2026 Annual Local Town Election – Tuesday, June 9, 2026
2026 State Primary – Tuesday, September 1, 2026
2026 State Election – Tuesday, November 3, 2026
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.
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.
The State Elections Division will mail out postcard applications for Vote By Mail (VBM) Ballots in July, 2026. VBM and Absentee Ballots will be mailed to voters who have submitted an application as soon as the ballots are received in the Town Clerk’s Office. You may also download a VBM 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 noon 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 5:00 pm 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.
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.
Absentee Ballot Information:
Download the Absentee Ballot Application here.
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.
Annual Town Election Calendar
- Monday, March 2, 2026 – First day to obtain nomination papers.
- Thursday, April 16, 2026—5:00pm – Last day and hour to obtain nomination papers.
- Tuesday, April 21, 2026—5:00pm – Last day and hour to file townwide nomination papers with the Registrar of Voters (Town Clerk’s Office).
- Tuesday, April 21, 2026—5:00pm – Last day and hour for Town Meeting Member incumbents to file written request for re-election with the Town Clerk.
- Tuesday, May 5, 2026—5:00pm – Last day and hour for townwide nomination papers to be certified by the Town Clerk’s Office.
- Tuesday, May 5, 2026—5:00pm – Last day and hour to file Town Meeting Member nomination papers with the Registrar of Voters (Town Clerk’s Office).
- Thursday, May 7, 2026—5:00pm – Last day and hour to object to or withdraw nomination papers.
- Tuesday, May 12, 2026—5:00pm – Last day and hour for Town Meeting Member nomination papers to be certified by the Town Clerk’s Office.
- Friday, May 29, 2026—5:00pm — Last day and hour to register to vote for the Annual Town Election.
- Tuesday, June 2, 2026 — Last day to post warrant.
- Tuesday, June 2, 2026—5:00pm — Last day and hour to request a ballot by mail.
- Monday, June 8, 2026—noon — Last day and hour to apply for an absentee/in-person absentee ballot.
- Tuesday, June 9, 2026 — ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION—Polls are open from 10:00am to 8:00pm
| ELECTED OFFICE | TERM LENGTH | SEATS AVAILABLE |
| SELECT BOARD | 3 YEAR | 2 |
| PLANNING BOARD | 3 YEAR | 2 |
| PLANNING BOARD To Fill A Vacancy | 2 YEAR | 1 |
| SCHOOL COMMITTEE | 3 YEAR | 2 |
| SCHOOL COMMITTEE To Fill A Vacancy | 1 YEAR | 1 |
| BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS | 3 YEAR | 2 |
| BOARD OF HEALTH | 3 YEAR | 1 |
| COMMISSIONER OF TRUST FUNDS | 3 YEAR | 1 |
| HOUSING AUTHORITY | 5 YEAR | 1 |
Nomination papers are available as of March 2, 2026 at the Town Clerk’s Office. Nomination papers for townwide office election require 50 certified signatures. Completed nomination papers with signatures must be submitted to the Town Clerk’s office by April 21, 2026 at 5:00PM.
Running For Office in Fairhaven – Quick Checklist
Campaign Finance Packet
Nomination papers are available as of March 2, 2026 at the Town Clerk’s Office. Nomination papers for for Town Meeting Member 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 May 5, 2026 at 5:00PM.
Town Meeting Members who seek re-election should file a written request with the Town Clerk no later April 21, 2026 at 5:00PM.
Nomination papers are available as of Monday, March 2, 2026 at the Town Clerk’s Office. Nomination papers for townwide office require 50 certified signatures. Completed nomination papers with signatures must be submitted to the Town Clerk’s office by Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 5:00PM.
Obtaining signatures: What IS allowed?
- Multiple signature pages – Each signee, or family, may have their own individual nomination paper form.
- Scheduling drop-off – Please give our office a call to schedule drop off of nomination papers so we can issue you a receipt.
Obtaining signatures: What is NOT allowed?
- Electronic signatures. All signatures must be in wet ink.
- Time Extensions. There are no extended deadlines approved by Massachusetts State for the obtaining of nomination signatures
- Reduction of Signatures. The number of signatures required remains the same.
Suggestions for Obtaining Signatures:
- You can mail individual nomination papers to people and ask them to sign them and mail them back
- Candidates can set up a table, with permission at a post office or other public place (i.e., a grocery store), but include fresh pens, gloves and sanitizer
- Some candidates are announcing the locations of supporters who have covered porches and letting people drop by to sign. Candidates can set specific hours to sign so their nomination papers don’t stay unsupervised for long hours
- Advertise designated signing areas/times through social media or mail
- Please note: each page must have the candidate’s information filled out on both the front and back of the page.
All candidates that have obtained 50 signatures of registered voters are eligible to be on the ballot after the signatures have been certified.
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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 Monday, March 2, 2026 at the Town Clerk’s Office. Nomination papers for for Town Meeting Member 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 Thursday, 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.Available starting Monday, March 2, 2026 at the Town Clerk’s Office. Please call ahead (508-946-8800 x3) to make an appointment to request nomination papers between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday – Thursday, and 8:00 am ’til Noon on Fridays.