Move the
Vote

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.

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.

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.

Yes — extensively. Research has examined cities and towns of all sizes, with a range of local government structures, across the United States.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The bill was assigned to the Joint Committee on Election Laws, which will hold a one-time public hearing on October 21, 2025. During this hearing, bill sponsors, legislators, public officials, and members of the public may submit testimony — either orally (by advance registration) or in writing — regarding the legislation.

Before December 3, 2025, the Committee will vote on whether to report the bill out favorably. If the bill receives a favorable report, it will be referred to a Senate standing committee for legislative counsel review, then proceed to a vote by the full Senate. If approved, the bill moves to a House standing committee for a similar process, then a full House vote, before being sent to the Governor for signature.

If the Senate and House agree on a final version of the bill and the Governor signs it into law, it will take effect for the Town of Canton. The current bill specifies, however, that it may not become effective during a presidential election year — 2028 — to ease the administrative burden on the Town Clerk's office during those higher-turnout, higher-complexity elections.

Therefore, if Senate Bill 2605 is enacted, it will become effective for a Canton election held before or after 2028.

Following the Senate committee's hearing on October 21, 2025, Senate rules require the Committee to report on the bill by no later than December 3, 2025.

A Home Rule Petition filed by the Select Board would likely include proposed terms for a transition plan addressing 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.

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.

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.

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. Canton Residents to Move the Vote believe that outcome was shaped by a range of factors that prevented a clear expression of the voters' will — including 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.

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, Canton voters must authorize the Select Board at Town Meeting. A simple majority vote in favor of Warrant Article 27 (51% or more) grants the Select Board the authority to file a home rule petition with the state.

No. This is a multi-step process. Following the favorable April ballot vote, the next step was Canton's Annual Town Meeting on May 12, where voters approved Article 27 by a simple majority — authorizing 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.

The voters have spoken. The Select Board voted unanimously to file the Home Rule Petition, which was introduced in the legislature as Senate Bill 2605 on September 15, 2025. The bill is now before the Joint Committee on Election Laws, with a public hearing scheduled for October 21, 2025.

Town Meeting was held on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Canton High School auditorium. All registered voters in Canton were eligible — and encouraged — to attend and participate.

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.