By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — As of press time, no new candidates had pulled nomination papers for the May 7 Town Election, according to the Town Clerk’s Office. There’s no rush yet because those who have pulled nomination papers to date have until Tuesday, March 19 at 5 p.m. to return them with the signatures of at least 50 certified North Reading voters.
But there is another election on the horizon for all Massachusetts voters. It’s the Super Tuesday Presidential Primary, which is being held in just under four weeks.
For those who wish to take advantage of voting by mail on Super Tuesday, the deadline to return their application to the Town Clerk’s office is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27, but to allow for sufficient mailing time, they should return them ASAP.
According to Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin As of this week, more than 500,000 Massachusetts voters had already applied for a mail-in ballot for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primaries. Every registered voter in Massachusetts received an official 2024 Vote by Mail application from Galvin’s Elections Division last month. Voters in the state may also use that application to apply for mail-in ballots for the September 3 State Primary and November 5 State Election, said Galvin in a statement.
“Voting by mail has become extremely popular among Massachusetts voters over the last few years. With more than half a million applications submitted in the first month of 2024, I think we can expect a large number of mail-in ballots to be cast in all three statewide elections this year,” he said.
All North Reading voters cast their ballots on Election Day at the St. Theresa Parish Hall, 63 Winter St. The town’s four precincts are centrally located here. Polls will be open on March 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents who wish to register to vote or registered voters who wish to check their voter status or change their party affiliation may do so online at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/
They may also visit the Town Clerk’s Office in person at Town Hall, 235 North St.
Town Election details
In the Town Election, the last day a resident may register to vote to participate in the May 7 Town Election is Saturday, April 27. The Town Clerk’s office will be open that day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The positions on the ballot in 2024 are:
SELECT BOARD
Two three-year terms. The incumbents up for reelection this year are Kathryn Manupelli and Stephen O’Leary.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Two three-year terms. The incumbents up for reelection this year are Dyana Boutwell and Rich McGowan.
COMMUNITY PLANNING COMMISSION
Two three-year terms. The incumbents up for reelection this year are: Ryan Carroll and Jerimiah Johnston
TOWN MODERATOR
One one-year term. The incumbent is John J. Murphy
HOUSING AUTHORITY
One five-year term: James DeCola
Town Clerk’s contact information
Those with any questions on the Town Election process may call the Town Clerk’s Office at 978-357-5230 or visit the Town Clerk’s page on the town website at northreadingma.gov/town-clerk and look at the right side of the screen where they’ll see the title: “Information to Candidates 2024.