Amherst, Massachusetts Public Records

Voter registration in Amherst can be completed online through the Massachusetts Secretary of State's website at www.RegisterToVoteMA.com, which offers a secure system requiring a Massachusetts driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number. The registration deadline is 20 days before any election. Residents can also register in person at the Town Clerk's Office, at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, or by submitting mail-in registration forms. Unlike many Massachusetts communities, Amherst operates under a Town Meeting form of government, making it one of the largest towns in the state to retain this traditional New England structure. Executive leadership comes from the five-member Select Board, formerly known as the Board of Selectmen, with members elected to three-year staggered terms. The legislative body consists of Town Meeting members elected from each of the town's ten precincts. Annual town elections take place each March, with the next regular election scheduled for March 2026. Voters choose Town Meeting members, Select Board members, School Committee members, Library Trustees, and other local officials during these contests. The town budget and local ballot measures are decided at Annual Town Meeting each spring and at Special Town Meetings as needed. The Town Clerk's website and local media, including the Amherst Bulletin, provide information on candidates and warrant articles. Polling locations correspond to the town's ten precincts and can be found using the Secretary of State's locator at www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVoteMA, or by contacting the Town Clerk directly. Voting sites are typically located in schools, community centers, and other public buildings. Under Massachusetts public records law, voter registration lists are available for purchase for political purposes, though residential addresses are partially redacted. Campaign finance reports for candidates at all levels can be accessed through the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance at www.ocpf.us. After elections, the Town Clerk posts precinct-by-precinct results, which the Secretary of State compiles statewide. Hampshire County saw strong voter engagement in the November 2024 presidential election, with approximately 65% turnout among registered voters. Amherst typically exceeds county averages, often surpassing 70% turnout in presidential years, a reflection of the civically engaged, highly educated population. The November 3, 2026 general election will bring several significant races to local voters. Massachusetts will hold elections for all constitutional offices including Governor and Lieutenant Governor (four-year terms), Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and State Auditor. All 160 seats in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and all 40 seats in the State Senate will be on the ballot, with residents voting for representatives in state legislative districts that may include portions of Hampshire and Franklin counties. While Elizabeth Warren's U.S. Senate seat is not up in 2026, all nine Massachusetts U.S. House seats will be contested. At the Hampshire County level, voters may elect the Register of Deeds, County Commissioners (depending on current county government structure), and District Attorney for the Northwestern District. Local questions may address debt authorization for school buildings, zoning changes, and other matters requiring voter approval. Massachusetts provides multiple voting options beyond showing up on Election Day. Early voting is available for all biennial state elections and presidential primaries, typically running for approximately two weeks before Election Day at locations announced by the Town Clerk. Absentee voting, also called vote-by-mail, is available to any registered voter who will be absent from town on Election Day, has a disability, or has a religious belief preventing in-person voting. Applications can be submitted online at www.sec.state.ma.us/ele, by mail, or in person at the Town Clerk's Office. The application deadline is noon the day before the election for in-person pickup; ballots sent by mail must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the close of polls. Voters with permanent disabilities can obtain permanent absentee voting status. The state's online tracking system allows voters to confirm their mail ballot was received and counted.