SAUGUS — With Town Meeting in the rearview mirror, the town is starting to gear up for what is sure to be a contentious election season this summer and fall.
To that end, the town clerk’s office issued the calendar for the Nov. 7 election, with nomination papers set to become available on July 24. Candidates have until Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. to obtain nomination papers, and Sept. 19 at 5 p.m. to submit papers to the clerk’s office.
All five posts on both the Board of Selectmen and School Committee are up for grabs this fall, and voters could usher in significant change should the memberships of those boards be shaken up.
Candidates running for Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and Housing Authority are required to obtain 50 certified signatures to appear on the ballot. Residents running to become Town Meeting members need to obtain 10 certified signatures from residents in their precinct.
Any objections or withdrawals must be submitted to the clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on Oct. 5, and the drawing of ballot positions will be held at 5:30 p.m. the same day.
Residents have until Oct. 28 to register to vote.
Candidates must submit Office of Campaign Finance reports by Oct. 30, eight days prior to the election; and again on Dec. 7, 30 days following the election.
All candidates are expected to comply with the town’s zoning bylaws (Article 7, Section 7.3, Sub-Section 8) regarding political signs. Those regulations are that no more than one sign can be put up per election contest, per lot, on private property, and only with property owner’s permission; that signs shall not exceed 3 feet by 2 feet, or a total of 6 square feet in size; that freestanding signs shall be no higher than 5 feet above ground level at highest point; that signs shall be stationary and not directly illuminated; and that signs shall not be erected earlier than 30 days before an election, and shall be removed within seven days after the election. Primary Election winners need not remove signs until seven days after the General Election.
