Run for Town Office

Campaign Finance Forms
A Candidate's Guide to running for Town Election

Any person who is a registered voter in the Town of Norton is eligible to run for elected town office. Town Elections are held in April of each year.

Available Positions
Positions within the Town of Norton that are elected are: Town Moderator, Board of Selectmen, Town Clerk, School Committee, Board of Assessors, Planning Board, Housing Authority, S.E. Regional School Committee and the Water/Sewer Commissioners.
The length of terms varies by position, but most board and committees have at least one position up for election each year. Click here to view the current years elected officials terms due to expire list.
 
Nomination Papers
To have your name placed on the April Annual Town Election Ballot, you must obtain signatures of registered voters in the Town of Norton on nomination papers. Nomination papers are available from the Town Clerk’s office. The required number of signatures for candidates for town wide office is set at 1% of the total number of voters in the last race for governor in Norton. Please contact the Town Clerk for the current number of required signatures.

Nomination papers must be returned to the Town Clerk’s office for the signatures to be certified.  See theElection Timeline for specific dates

Campaign Finance Forms
All candidates for elected office must file Campaign Finance Forms. These forms are due 8 days prior to the election, 30 days after, as well as a year end filing which will be mailed in January of the following year. Even if you do not spend any money on your campaign, you must file these forms on time.

Click here to view the Campaign Finance Forms

When you are elected
Before you can attend any board or committee meeting in an official capacity, you must be sworn in by the Town Clerk.

Write-in Candidates
If you missed the opportunity to pick up nomination papers before the deadline, you may run on a sticker or write-in campaign. Notify the Town Clerk's Office of your intention to run with the following information: Name, Address, Position you intend to run for.
Please note that you will be required to file your campaign finance forms as mentioned above.

In order to be considered a viable candidate on election day, you must receive at least the number of votes that was required to have your name placed on the ballot. If you win the seat, you may either accept or decline the nomination. If you accept, you must submit a letter to the Town Clerk of your acceptance. Before you can attend any board or committee meeting in an official capacity, you must be sworn in by the Town Clerk.