Every city and town must have a board of registrars or election commission whose responsibilities are provided for by state law and which include but are not limited to registering voters, making local listings of residents, preparing voting lists, certifying signatures on nomination papers and petitions, investigating objections and challenges to local nomination papers, certifying absent voter applications, administering election recounts, and overseeing voter residency challenges.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Southampton 5-7-2024 by Art. 18. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to MGL c. 51, § 15, the Board of Registrars (“Board”) will be comprised of four members: three appointed by the Select Board each for three-year terms. The Town Clerk shall serve as the fourth and ex officio member. Membership must include representatives from the two leading political parties (Republican and Democratic) with no more than two members of each of those parties and may also include unenrolled resident(s). As the terms of the registrar(s) expire, or a vacancy occurs on the Board of Registrars, the Select Board shall appoint their successor(s) in the manner provided for in MGL c. 51, § 15. Every appointment shall be made by the Select Board from a list to be submitted to them by the Town committee of the political party/parties from which the position is to be filled. The names of candidates on said lists from the respective political party/parties shall include the names of three enrolled members of such party, selected by a majority vote at a duly called meeting, at which a quorum of the Town committee is present. Unenrolled residents may submit applications to the Select Board and/or its designee for consideration to fill a vacancy on the Board of Registers. If the Chair of the respective Town committee has not submitted such a list to the Select Board within 45 days after being notified of a vacancy by certified mail, the Select Board shall make the appointment without reference to any such list.
A.
Must be a registered voter in Southampton and, if a member of a party, must be registered continuously in specified party for two years prior to the appointment;
B.
May hold no other office in the Town, state, or federal government; certain exceptions are provided for by law;
C.
Must be willing to subscribe an oath to faithfully perform the duties of a registrar;
D.
May not serve as chair, treasurer, or other principal officer of any political committee.
The Board of Registrars’ duties are set forth in state law and include, without limitation, as follows:
A.
The Board oversees the voter registration process and maintenance of voter registration records. When probable cause or sufficient grounds exists therefor, in accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 51, §§ 47B, 48, the Board may summon voters to appear before the Board for a hearing about the qualifications of a registered voter.
B.
The Board is responsible to certify signatures on nomination papers and petitions.
C.
Registrars meet after general elections to count returned ballots from overseas voters, if any.
D.
The Board presides over election recounts and assist the Town Clerk in preparing local election calendars.
E.
Meetings are held monthly and, as needed, in accordance with general election requirements.
F.
The Board may hold additional voter registration sessions outside of normal office hours.
G.
They may be called upon to address voter-related issues in the Clerk’s office on election day.