ELIGIBILITY: Any registered voter in the town of Arlington is eligible.

TERM: Usually 3 years. Occasionally a town-wide office will have one or two year terms available due to a resignation.

NOMINATING PETITION: Obtain blank nomination papers from the Town Clerk's office before 5:00 PM on Thursday, February 15. The petition must be signed with 50 certifiable signatures from any precinct -- substantially as they are listed on the voting list--therefore it is advisable to collect 75-100 signatures in case some are disallowed. Signed petitions must be submitted to the Town Clerk by 5:00 PM on Monday, February 26. The last day to withdraw your name from the ballot is Wednesday, March 14. Nomination papers are available from the Town Clerk’s Office.

PRECINCT MAPS: These are available at the Town Clerk’s office and online at Precinct Map

VOTING LIST: Request a copy of the list of registered voters for all precincts when you file your nomination papers. A complimentary copy is available on computer disk once a candidate has filed to run. This list is useful for door-to-door canvassing. Lists that identify the voters in the last Town election are also available. You may also request a copy of the Arlington True List – this list is organized by precinct and within the precinct, alphabetically by street name and address. The True List identifies all adults living in the town as of last year’s town census. It can be helpful in identifying supporters.

BALLOT: Ballot position is determined by lottery on Thursday March 15. Check with the Town Clerk’s office for the time and location.

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE: Candidates for town-wide offices have to form a campaign committee even if they do not raise any money for their campaign. Candidates who raise money for their campaign have to submit financial reports at specific time periods before and after the election. The Campaign Treasurer should pay strict attention to the relevant laws on contributions and expenditures. The Town Clerk’s Office will supply the candidate with all appropriate forms and laws.

FREE PUBLICITY:

• NEWSPAPER: The Arlington Advocate allows candidates for town-wide office to publish 2 short articles before the last edition before the election. It will also devote approximately 4 pages to the Town election in the weeks before the election, usually March or early April.
• LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: The Arlington Advocate: Letters from candidates and supporters will be considered for publication if they address specific campaign issues; letters should be 400 words or less and must include the writer’s name, address and phone number. The writer must be a resident of Arlington. Readers may submit one letter every four weeks to be considered for publication. No letters of endorsement or letters that raise allegations or new charges against a candidate will be published after the possiblity of a response, which would be after the issue that comes out 2 weeks before the election.
• LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS: A form requesting biographical information and questions on Town issues will be sent to the candidates by the League of Women Voters. The questions and your responses will be published in the Advocate prior to Election Day. The questionnaire will be mailed to you in February with a reply deadline of one week. Due to the large number of candidates, space for answers is limited to 200 words. League members will edit replies exceeding the announced limit. Preferred responses are by e-mail to LWVotersGuide@comcast.net. Otherwise, typed responses will facilitate the accuracy of transcription.

• KNOCK ON DOORS: Nothing is more effective! Introduce yourself and leave your handout. You will find that most people are either not at home or will simply take your card and say thank you. If they ask you questions, either answer them or promise to provide an answer later and remember to get back to them with accurate information. You are not expected to know everything as a new candidate! DO NOT LEAVE YOUR HANDOUT IN THE MAILBOX. THIS IS ILLEGAL. You are liable for postage on every piece the Postal Service finds in this manner. Place it securely between doors, under the doormat, or in another obvious place. You want the voters to see your handout, but you do not want them angry because it litters their yards.

• STAND AT PUBLIC PLACES: Hand out your card, ask people for their vote.

• TELEPHONING: Another way to let people in the town know that you are running and would like their vote.

• CANDIDATES NIGHT: Scheduled for Thursday, March 29, 7:30 PM at Town Hall and run by the LWV of Arlington and Vision 2020. As a candidate for town-wide office, you will be allowed an introduction and closing speech and be expected to answer questions from the audience. The format is formal and adheres to a very strict time schedule. You will be contacted individually with instructions.

• NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS: Contact neighborhood organizations, and ask if they have a candidate’s night and if you could attend.

• COFFEE PARTIES: You can organize your own in homes in the town. You might attend parties given for other town-wide candidates and ask if you can introduce yourself to potential supporters.

• THE DROP: Candidates organize a day, approximately 2 weeks before the election to "drop" literature at every household in the town. There are 17,000 households in Arlington. Volunteers take the literature and a map of the streets they are responsible for and make sure that every house receives information. This requires a huge number of volunteers, but it is very effective. Follow instructions for "Knock on Doors" when you are leaving literature.

• STAND AT THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY: You and your volunteers can stand at the polling place with a sign, or handouts, or both. You must be 150 feet from the nearest entrance – marked, usually a white hash mark on the sidewalk or a nearby tree. If the 150-foot mark is not obvious, ask the policeman on duty where to stand. You may not leave your sign unattended. You will probably have company. DRESS very WARMLY -- in layers – and don’t forget gloves.

• NEWSPAPER: The Advocate accepts paid advertising for town-wide candidates. Call 978-371-5719 for current advertising rates.

• POSTAGE. Most candidates only mail to people who have voted in the last 2 or 3 elections. You will also need postage to thank people who are donating their time or money.

• HANDOUT: Most candidates have a sheet or card printed to advertise themselves. Include your name, address, length of residence in Arlington, public positions held, community activities and any message you wish to convey. You might indicate your intention to participate in Candidates Night. Endorsements can also be included. Supporters may wish to hand write messages and sign them.

• MAILINGS: If it is to be sent through the mail, it can be no smaller than 3.5" x 5.0" and no larger than 6.125" by 11.5". Many people prepare an 8.5x11 flyer, folded in thirds to introduce themselves to the voter with similar information as the handout.

• DEAR FRIEND POSTCARDS: Candidates design a postcard to be distributed to supporters, who address the postcard to friends who live in town and sign it.

• SIGNS: Many candidates have signs printed with their names and office. You will also need "sticks" to staple the signs to. Supporters hold these signs at busy intersections in town at key times preceding the election, and also on election day, outside of the polls.

• BUMPER STICKERS: Some candidates distribute bumper stickers to supporters.

• BUTTONS: Some candidates distribute buttons with their names to supporters.

• All citizens are allowed to observe the counting of ballots at the polling places, but they must be inside before 8:00 p.m. when the doors are locked. Ask a poll worker where you may stand. Preliminary results from the AccuVote machine should be read aloud and the tape posted on a wall where it can be seen until counting is complete. (The tape looks like a cash register receipt.) Write in votes are recorded and then final returns are announced. Returns of each precinct are also read aloud in the Town Clerk's office as election officials bring materials there. Cable TV may show the scene as it unfolds in the Town Clerk's office.

Town Warrant. The Warrant is inserted into the Arlington Advocate for those who subscribe and mailed to other households at least 7 days before Election Day. The Town Election is Article I of the Town Warrant.

Annual Town Report. Detailed information about town income, expenditures, and department operations. Distributed at the first Town Meeting. Previous reports are available at the library.

Selectmen-Town Manager Act. At the library or the town offices or at http://www.town.arlington.ma.us/Public_Documents/ArlingtonMA_WebDocs/manager_act