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Canton residents urge committee to approve home-rule petition moving town elections to November
Summary
Residents and local officials told the Joint Committee on Election Laws that moving Canton’s town elections from April to November would boost turnout and let newly elected officials fully participate in budget and town-meeting preparations.
Residents and elected officials from Canton told the Joint Committee on Election Laws they support Senate Bill 2605, a home-rule petition to move Canton's local elections from April to November.
Jennifer Wexler, a Canton resident who led the petition drive, told the committee that the ballot initiative passed in Canton by roughly 3-to-1 and that petitioners collected 2,369 signatures—more than the 10% threshold required to place a nonbinding referendum on the ballot. “The more Cantonites who vote, the better for our town,” Wexler said.
Multiple speakers cited turnout data to argue the change would increase participation. Susan Harrington, a Canton resident and former candidate, said turnout for local April elections typically ranges “17 to 24%,” while turnout in November for state and federal contests is “60% to 80%.” Lisa Lopez, a former select board member, said aligning local elections with November voting would help newly elected officials participate fully in budget and town-meeting preparations.
Jeffrey Sullivan, a longtime civic volunteer and poll worker, told the committee Canton voters “are ready to take on the challenge,” and urged a favorable report.
Witnesses said the Canton select board voted unanimously to submit the home-rule petition to the Legislature and that Sen. Paul Feeney and Rep. Bill Galvin cosponsored the measure. Petitioners asked lawmakers to work with town officials to resolve logistical concerns, such as poll-worker capacity.
Committee members asked about practical details, including whether town elections would appear on the same ballot as state and federal contests and whether the municipal clerk supported the change. Petitioners said local candidates and questions would appear on the November ballot and that the clerk had raised concerns about poll-worker capacity but had not opposed the change and indicated she would organize if the law changed.
No committee vote was taken. Petitioners asked the committee to report S 2605 favorably so Canton’s authorized change can proceed through the Legislature.
