BIG WIN for Move the Vote. More than 3,000 voted YES, twice the number who opposed.
Move the Vote
Canton, MA local elections moved to November
Aligning local elections to state and federal elections in November can increase voter turnout substantially. And larger voter turnout means that the candidates elected will be the choice of a larger group of voters, more widely representative of the entire community.
Check out our frequently asked questions
What's Next?
The voters have spoken. Now it’s up to the Select Board to honor the outcome of the election and file a Home Rule Petition with the Massachusetts legislature.
To file a Home Rule Petition, the Select Board must be formally “authorized” to do so by Town Meeting.
What Can I Do?
Come to Town Meeting on May 12 to vote YES on Article 27 to give the Select Board authorization to file the Home Rule Petition.
Frequently Asked
Questions
© Canton Residents to Move the Vote. All rights reserved.
Why change the date of local elections from April to November?
The purpose of moving local elections to November is to increase voter turnout by aligning them with state and federal elections.Historically, voter participation in Canton’s local elections has ranged from 17–24% of registered voters. (Turnout was higher in 2024, likely due to the highly unusual and charged circumstances of that year.) By contrast, recent voter turnout for state elections in Canton is around 60%, and approximately 80% in presidential election years. There are currently about 18,500 registered voters in Canton.We believe that most voters who already participate in state and federal elections—whether through early voting, mail-in ballots, or in-person voting on Election Day—will also request a local ballot. This change would significantly increase participation in our local elections and support for local government.Higher turnout means that elected candidates will reflect the choices of a broader and more representative segment of the community. Over time, greater voter engagement is likely to lead to increased understanding of, appreciation for, and participation in Canton’s elected, appointed, and volunteer roles.
Why do most Massachusetts towns hold their local elections in the spring?
A very old Massachusetts law established the practice of holding local elections in the spring, due to the autumn harvests in what were then largely farming towns, making November elections impractical. This was not the case for Massachusetts cities, which have long held their local elections in November. We believe this distinction is no longer relevant and, unfortunately, contributes to lower voter turnout. Several Massachusetts towns have already made the move to November elections.
What is a “dual ballot” election?
Canton holds elections annually for its municipal offices. State and federal elections occur every two, four, or six years depending on the office, and are always held in even-numbered years.If Canton were to adopt this change, there would be no difference between the ballot voters historically received in April and the one they would receive in November during odd-numbered years. In even-numbered years, voters who wish to vote in local, state, and/or federal elections would receive two separate ballots—one for local offices and one for state and federal offices. These are known as dual ballot elections.
Have “dual ballot” elections been held successfully in Massachusetts towns?
Yes.There have been successful dual ballot elections in several Massachusetts towns, for a variety of reasons—though none, to our knowledge, for combining local elections with state and federal elections in November.With good planning, organization, and modest additional part-time or seasonal support for the Town Clerk’s office (such as partially processing mail-in ballots ahead of Election Day), we’re confident that Canton can successfully run a dual ballot election every other year.
Are there additional benefits to Canton of larger voter turnout?
Yes, data shows that higher voter turnout results in elected candidates who reflect the choices of a broader and more representative segment of the community.Over time, increased voter engagement is also believed to foster greater understanding of, appreciation for, and participation in the town’s elected, appointed, and volunteer roles.
Has the effect of election timing on voter turnout been studied?
Yes—extensively. Research has examined cities and towns of all sizes, with a range of local government structures, across the United States.For example, see the following links:
The Boston Globe: Massachusetts should move local elections to even-numbered years
Sightline Institute: Voters Want Fewer Elections: Here’s How to Do That
The University of Chicago: Timing of Local Elections
National Civic League: Increasing Voter Turnout in Local Elections
U.S. Vote Foundation: How to Boost Local Election Turnout
Public Policy Institute of California: Turnout, Timing, and Competition of Municipal Elections in California
Common Cause: How Moving Elections to Even Years Increased Voter Participation in Local Elections
Northeastern University: Municipal Institutions, Electoral System Design, and Voter Turnout in Large American Cities
Manhattan Institute: Declining Turnout in Big-City Elections
Illinois Wesleyan University: Mayoral Election Turnout in Midsize American Cities
Will combining elections in November save Canton money?
Not necessarily. When federal and state elections are held in November, combining them with local elections could reduce some duplicated costs—such as police details and poll workers. However, other costs may increase due to higher voter participation in November’s local elections, such as expenses related to ballots and processing.This proposed change is not primarily about saving money. Its main goal is to strengthen the democratic process by increasing voter participation and engagement.
Does the ballot question differ from the 2023 Special Town Meeting article?
The petitioners succeeded in placing the question on the April 8th, 2025 local election ballot, giving voters the opportunity to express their support for changing the timing of local elections. Although the outcome is advisory and non-binding on the Select Board, the message was clear: 67% voted in favor of making this important change.A similarly worded warrant article was considered at the November 2023 Special Town Meeting but did not pass. That vote, too, would have been non-binding on the Select Board.Canton Residents to Move the Vote believe that the outcome of the Special Town Meeting was shaped by a range of factors that prevented a clear expression of the voters' will. These included technical and communication issues at the high school venue, limited parking, the late hour, general confusion, early departures, and the contentious nature of unrelated votes.In contrast, the April 8th ballot question was voted on via secret ballot and passed with support from 3,081 voters.
Now that the question was approved at the ballot box, does it return to Town Meeting?
Yes.The ballot question on Canton’s April 8th local election passed with majority support, sending a clear message to the Select Board: voters want to move our local elections from April to November. Now, it's up to the Select Board to respect that will by submitting a “home rule” petition to the Massachusetts legislature, which is required to amend Canton’s bylaw.Before that can happen, however, Canton voters must authorize the Select Board to take this step at the upcoming Annual Town Meeting on May 12. A simple majority vote in favor of Warrant Article 27 (51% or more) will grant the Select Board the authority to file a home rule petition with the state.
Was the campaign successful in collecting signatures to require the addition of a ballot question on the April 8, 2025 ballot?
Yes!More than 30 volunteer signature gatherers collected 2,369 petition signatures in support of placing a ballot question on whether to move local elections from April to November. Canton Residents to Move the Vote submitted the signatures to the Canton Registrars, via the Town Clerk, on February 3, 2025. This total far exceeded the threshold required under state law—10% of registered Canton voters—to qualify for inclusion on the local ballot.A week later, the Town Clerk confirmed that enough signatures had been certified and that the question would appear on the upcoming ballot.
Does a majority YES vote on the April ballot mean that local elections will immediately happen in November instead of April?
No. This is a multi-step process. Following the favorable April ballot vote expressing the will of Canton voters, the next step takes place at Canton’s Annual Town Meeting on May 12. There, voters must approve Article 27 by a simple majority (51%) to authorize the Select Board to file a home rule petition with the Massachusetts legislature, seeking an exemption from the state law governing the timing of local elections.These two affirmative votes would send a strong and clear message to the Select Board about the community’s support for making this change.
What is the home rule petition process?
A home rule petition is a mechanism that allows a town to request an exemption from a state law that would otherwise apply to it. If Town Meeting authorizes the filing of a home rule petition, a majority of at least three Select Board members must then vote to approve submitting it to the state legislature.Even if successful, the home rule process can take time and may require action across multiple legislative sessions. If this change reflects the will of Canton voters, Senator Paul Feeney has committed to championing the petition through the legislature.
Does the Canton Town Clerk support the ballot initiative to Move the Vote?
The Town Clerk has publicly expressed support for the goal of increasing voter turnout, while also raising good-faith concerns and identifying legitimate operational challenges that would need to be addressed before any change could be implemented. These issues will require careful planning and collaboration among many stakeholders in crafting the specifics of a home rule petition.Canton Residents to Move the Vote acknowledges the complexity of this process and is committed to supporting the work required to ensure that any change is both successful and something the Town can be proud to stand behind.For example, the group would advocate for a home rule petition that allows Canton’s local candidates to appear directly on the state ballot in even-numbered years—eliminating the logistical challenges associated with dual ballot elections.
What was the result of the April 8 ballot question?
Canton voters overwhelmingly voted YES to Move the Vote: 3,081 to 1,540. While the ballot question was non-binding, it sent an unequivocal message to the Select Board about the will of the voters they were elected to represent.
What happens next to implement Move the Vote?
The voters have spoken. Now it’s up to the Select Board to honor the outcome of the election and move forward by filing a Home Rule Petition with the Massachusetts legislature.Before that can happen, the Select Board must be formally authorized to do so by Town Meeting. To grant that authorization, voters must approve Article 27 at Canton’s Annual Town Meeting on May 12, 2025. A simple majority vote in favor is required.
Who votes at Town Meeting?
Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Canton High School auditorium. All registered voters in Canton are eligible—and encouraged—to attend and participate.
How will elected officials be treated whose terms expire in April in the year Canton's change to November elections is put into effect?
A Home Rule Petition filed by the Select Board to Move the Vote would likely include the formal bill to be considered by the Massachusetts Legislature (House and Senate), along with proposed terms for a transition plan. This plan would address how to manage the terms of elected officials whose service would have otherwise ended in April of the year local elections shift to November. There are several ways such a transition could be designed and implemented.It may take several years to draft the Home Rule Petition and guide it through both chambers of the Legislature. The April 8, 2025 ballot vote was the beginning of this good government reform—not the end.
How do I volunteer to help?
Reach out today to host a lawn sign or hold a sign on or before Election Day on April 8, to move the vote!You can also download and share the below video on Facebook or other social media platforms to spread awareness for Canton's Move the Vote campaign!
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