Ward Representative Election Information
Click here to watch a video explaining the change to ward/at-large voting.
If you missed the candidate/voter information sessions, click here to watch a recording.
What Has Changed
| Our Current Electoral System |
Our New Electoral System |
- Members of the City Council are elected for two-year terms during an election occurring in odd numbered years (2021, 2023) to serve in an at-large capacity, meaning they represent the entire city
- Members of the School Committee are elected for staggered four-year terms during elections occurring in odd numbered years (2021, 2023) to serve in an at-large capacity, meaning they represent the entire city
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- Members of the City Council are elected for two-year terms during an election occurring in odd numbered years (2021, 2023) and consisting of:
- 4 at-large councilors
- 7 ward councilors
- Members of the School Committee are elected for two-years terms during elections occurring in odd numbered years (2021, 2023) and consisting of:
- 3 at-large members*
- 7 ward members
- The mayor
*Only three current elected officials are exempt from seeking re-election this year. They are Paul A. Magliocchetti, Maura L. Ryan-Ciardiello, and Richard J. Rosa.
Each were re-elected to four-year terms in 2021 and legislation, approving Haverhill’s electoral changes, permits them to complete their current terms. All future elected officials will serve two-year terms.
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Why & How This Was Changed
| Why |
How |
- Ensures a more diverse representation in both bodies of city government
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- Haverhill voters approved two non-binding ballot questions during the November 2021 municipal election by a 2-1 margin to accept this change in our representative government
- Once approved by our voters, legislation was filed on the state level and approved by the Legislature
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Residency Requirements to Run
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“A city councilor at large, district city councilor, school committee member at large or district school committee member that removes from the city during their elected term shall be deemed by the city clerk to have vacated their office. A district city councilor or district school committee member that moves from one district to another during the first 18 months of the elected term shall be deemed to have vacated their seat, however, a district city councilor or district school committee member who removes from the district from which they were elected during the last six months of the elected term may complete their term as district city councilor or district school committee member.”
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- If you move from your ward within first 18 months of your term, you have vacated the seat
- If you move from your ward within the last six months of your term, you may complete the term in that district
- If you move from the city altogether, you have vacated the seat
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Nomination Papers
| Deadlines |
Signatures |
- Available on May 1st in the City Clerk’s Office
- Must be returned no later than July 21st at 5 PM to the City Clerk’s Office
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- Mayor, At-large: 50 signatures of registered voters in the city
- Ward: 25 signatures of registered voters in the city
- Always best to get more!
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Preliminary Election
| What triggers a preliminary? |
When would the preliminary occur? And when we will know if there will be one? |
- Double the amount of seats in the race, plus one
- Mayor’s race - at least three candidates
- Ward races - at least three candidates
- At-large races - at least nine candidates
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- If a preliminary election is needed it will be held on September 12th *
- We will know for certain if we will need one by the nomination paper return deadline of July 21st
* Date to be approved by Board of Registrars and City Council |
Campaign Finance
| Mayor and City Council |
School Committee |
- File campaign finance reports on the state level with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance
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- File campaign finance reports with the City Clerk’s office
- Statement of Organization of Candidate or Committee (CPF M 101)
- Campaign Finance Report (CPF M 102)
- Dates to remember for CPF M102
- 8th day preceding preliminary
- 8th day preceding general election
- 30 days after election
- Year-end report
- Dissolution (if dissolving committee)
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Election Calendar
Questions
Please contact Kaitlin Wright, Haverhill City Clerk, with any election-related questions at kwright@cityofhaverhill.gov or (978) 374-2312.
