May 1, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
Nomination papers available for candidates. Nomination papers can only be furnished to candidate or individual authorized in writing by candidate to obtain papers on candidate’s behalf. Candidate shall file statement containing candidate’s name, address, and office for which he/she will be a candidate before obtaining nomination papers. Statement available at Office of City Clerk.
July 14, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Last date and time to obtain nomination papers.
July 18, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Last date and time to file nomination papers with Board of Registrars for certification of signatures.
August 1, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Last date and time for Board of Registrars to file nomination papers with City Clerk. Last date and time for candidate to file Statement of Candidacy with City Clerk. Statement of Candidacy is affixed to nomination papers.
August 3, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Last date and time to file objections and/or withdrawal of nomination papers.
This is intended to provide clarification of the process for obtaining and filing papers for nomination to office in a City of Woburn Municipal Election.
Section 9a of Chapter 53 of the General Laws provides a process for obtaining nomination papers and limiting the number of nomination papers to be issued. The Act was accepted by the City Council on June 6, 1963 and was effective on June 20, 1963.
The Section states in part that “Each candidate shall file with the city or town clerk, prior to obtaining blank nomination papers, a statement containing his name and address, and the city or town office for which he intends to be a candidate.” The Office of the City Clerk has a form for use by candidates in order to comply with the State law.
Further the Section provides that “No candidate for city or town office shall receive more blank nomination papers than will contain the number of signatures required to place his name in nomination, multiplied by five.”
Nomination for the office of Mayor requires 100 certified signatures of registered voters qualified to vote for the office, School Committee and Councilor At Large offices require 50 certified signatures and Ward Councilor offices require 10 certified signatures. This office can issue no more than 34 nomination papers for candidates for Mayor, no more than 17 nomination papers for candidates for Councilor At Large and School Committee and no more than 4 nomination papers for Ward Councilor.
The signatures for Mayor, School Committee and Councilor At Large can be obtained city-wide. The signatures for Ward Councilor offices must be obtained from voters resident within the respective ward. Since this is a non-partisan election, a voter’s party affiliation will not prevent the voter from signing nomination papers for a candidate.
The Board of Registrars are not required to certify signatures greater than the amount needed to make a nomination increased by one-fifth. Therefore, the Board of Registrars are not required to certify more than 120 signatures for a candidate for the office of Mayor, 60 signatures for a candidate for the office of School Committee or Councilor At Large, and 12 signatures for a candidate for the office of Ward Councilor. The Board of Registrars will not accept any additional nomination papers once the required number of signatures have been filed and certified.