Contact the Town Clerk's office for more information:

     Email: townclerk@amherstma.gov

     Phone: (413) 259-3035

     Fax: (413) 259-2504

   Voter Registration

   Voting in Amherst

  Absentee Voters

  Find Your Polling Place

  Election Ballots for Online Viewing

  2008 Precincts Map (PDF - 2,275KB)

  Election Results

NEW! Annual Town Election April 1, 2008

        Town Wide Candidates

        Town Meeting Candidates

Voter Registration:

You may visit the Town Clerk's Office in Amherst Town Hall and complete a voter registration form in person. Or you may obtain a mail-in voter registration form from the Town Clerk’s Office (townclerk@amherstma.gov); the Amherst Public Libraries; Converse Hall, Amherst College; Hampshire College Library; UMass Commuter Services, Student Union; Amherst Regional High School; and various other locations throughout the state. Mail-in forms also may be obtained by requesting one through the State Elections Division's website or by calling (800) 462-VOTE. In addition, the state registries of motor vehicles, social service agencies, and military recruitment offices provide voter registration services.

Any person who is a Massachusetts resident and a United States citizen and will be 18 years old as of the next election is eligible to register to vote. You must attest, under the pains and penalties of perjury, that you are legally eligible to register and that the information you provide is accurate and truthful. The penalty for fraudulent registration is a fine of $10,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

When you register, you may choose to become a member of a political party, select a designation for a political organization that has not achieved party status in the state, or choose to become an "unenrolled" voter (commonly referred to as "independent"). Remember that if you register in a party, in a primary election you will only receive a ballot for that party. Unenrolled voters may request any ballot in a primary election.

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Voting in Amherst

The polling hours for all elections and all polling places are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

The Town of Amherst is divided into ten precincts which contain a total of eight polling locations: Precinct 1, North Congregational Church; Precinct 2, North Fire Station; Precinct 3, Immanuel Lutheran Church; Precincts 4 and 5, Bangs Community Center; Precinct 6, Fort River School; Precinct 7, Crocker Farm School; Precinct 8, Munson Memorial Library; Precinct 9, Wildwood School; Precinct 10, Bangs Community Center.

  Find your polling place

When you approach the check-in table, first tell the poll worker the name of the street where you live, then the number of your residence, and finally your name. The voter's list is arranged in street order, which assists in keeping your wait-time to a minimum.

In a primary election, voters who are registered in a political party may only obtain a ballot for that party. If you are an "unenrolled voter" (commonly referred to as an "independent voter"), you may request the ballot of any party participating in the primary election.

If your name does not appear on the active list of voters, the poll worker should contact the Town Clerk to determine if you are registered in another precinct. If you are listed on another precinct’s list in the Town, you must go to that polling location.

If you are not on any voter list in the Town, but believe you have registered, you may request a "provisional” ballot. The provisional ballot allows you to cast your votes. However, the municipal election official must determine the voter’s eligibility before counting the provisional ballot.  The municipal election official will review available records, at least those for the last three (3) years, to determine eligibility.  If eligibility is confirmed, the ballot will be removed from the sealed envelope and grouped with similar ballots and counted in a manner that provides the greatest secrecy.  If eligibility cannot be confirmed, your ballot will remain sealed in the envelope until such time as it is required to be kept and then will be destroyed without being viewed.

Once you give your address and name at the check-in table, you will receive a ballot and then you can proceed to a voting booth for privacy. You may vote for the choices available on the ballot or, if you prefer, write in the name of a candidate in space provided on the ballot. Once you are done voting, you will proceed to the check-out table. Again, you will provide the poll worker your street address and name. You will then insert your ballot into the ballot box.

If you are disabled and need assistance, you may be accompanied by someone who can provide the needed assistance or request a poll worker to provide you with confidential, nonpartisan help.

Prohibited Activities

State law prohibits the display of political paraphernalia within 150 feet of the entrance to the polling location. Signs, stickers, and even lapel buttons are not permitted within this restricted zone. State regulations also prohibit political solicitation within the restricted zone.

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Absentee Voters

Voters who are unable to vote on Election Day because of physical disability, religious beliefs, or absence from the Town may vote by absentee ballot. State law limits the availability of absentee ballots to the three listed circumstances only. Absentee ballots are not available for matters of inconvenience or because of ordinary commuting-related difficulties. If you will be absent from Amherst for an extended period of time, you may submit a single application for all elections occurring within the year the application is accepted.

Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained from the Town Clerk or the Office of the Secretary of State. Applications may be submitted in person or by mail. The voter, or a "family member" (father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, grandparent, grandchild, a spouse or person residing in the same household, in-laws, adopting parent or adopted child, stepparent or stepchild, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew), may submit an application. The voter or family member must sign all applications under the pains and penalties of perjury.

In primary elections, a voter registered as “Unenrolled” (commonly referred to as Independent) must specify the ballot of the party of choice in the application.   The “Unenrolled” voter will retain their party status and will not become a member of the party ballot they select.

If the voter submits the application in person, he or she may obtain the ballot (call first to see if it is available) and vote over-the-counter. If the ballot is not available, it will be sent to the voter when available. When the application is submitted in person by a family member, the ballot is sent by mail to the voter. In all other cases, the ballot is sent by mail. Ballots may be returned by mail or in person by the voter or a family member. All ballots must be signed by the voter or, if the voter is unable to sign, by an assisting person.

Applications for absentee ballots must be received by the Town Clerk before 12:00 noon the day before an election. (A voter who is admitted to a health care facility after 12 noon of the fifth day before an election may apply for a ballot up until the close of the polls and may request to have the ballot delivered.) Absentee ballots generally are available three weeks before an election.

Permanently Disabled Voters

A voter who is permanently disabled need not submit a request for an absentee ballot every election. If such a voter submits a note from a registered physician indicating that they are disabled permanently, the Town Clerk will send the voter an application for an absentee ballot at the beginning of each year. Upon receipt of the signed application, the Town Clerk will send the voter an absentee ballot prior to each election.

Specially Qualified Voters

In addition to registered voters, certain "specially qualified voters" may vote by absentee ballot. A "specially qualified voter" is a person who is a Massachusetts citizen living outside of the United States, who is at least 18 years old and whose last residence in the United States was Massachusetts. You also may be a "specially qualified voter" if you are otherwise eligible to be a registered voter and your present domicile (a place where you live and plan to remain) is Massachusetts and you are: out of the Town because you are in the active service of the armed forces or merchant marine of the United States, or a spouse or dependent of such a person; absent from the Commonwealth; or confined in a correctional facility or jail, except if by reason of felony conviction.

Amherst Town Government Act provisions regarding elections: 1. Election Provisions.

Proposed Charter provisions regarding elections: Article 8.

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