From the Town Clerk

Hello All ~ I hope you are enjoying the beautiful Fall weather in Rehoboth! Speaking of the Fall, I would like to remind all town residents that Town Offices will be closed on Monday, October 8th for Columbus Day.

Early Voting for the November 6, 2018 State Gubernatorial Election
We are excited to announce, for the second time ever in Massachusetts, all registered voters will be able to vote before Election Day (November 6, 2018). Early Voting will begin on October 22nd and continue through November 2nd 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Noon. Absentee voting will still be available for registered voters who qualify. Those who will be absent from Rehoboth on Election Day, have a disability that prevents you from going to the polls, or have a religious belief preventing the same, are legally allowed to vote by absentee ballot. Early Voting will be available for All Registered Voters from 10/22/18-11/2/18.

Registered voters no longer need an excuse or reason to vote early. Regardless of whether a voter wants to take advantage of Early Voting, vote absentee or vote on Election Day, the first step is making sure you are registered. To check to see if you are registered to vote, and to find information on how to register to vote, you may visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx
or call the Rehoboth Town Clerk’s Office at (508) 252-6502 X-3109 or X-3110. If you need to register to vote, you may do so online by visiting: www.RegisterToVoteMA.com (24/7) or at the Town Clerk’s Office located at 148 Peck Street, Rehoboth. All you need is a license or an I.D. issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles to apply online or in person. To be eligible to vote in the November 6th State Election, you must register to vote or make any necessary changes to your voter registration by Wednesday, October 17th, 2018.

In the Town of Rehoboth Early Voting can be done in person at Rehoboth Town Hall – 148 Peck Street – Town Clerk’s Office on the following dates: Monday-Friday, October 22-November 2 between the hours of 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (Mondays-Thursdays) and 8:00 AM-12:00 Noon (Fridays). For public convenience, the Rehoboth Town Clerk’s Office has also decided to offer extended evening hours and weekend hours:

Extended Evening and Saturday Hours of Early Voting: 

• Wednesday, October 24, 2018 from 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM – Town Hall-148 Peck Street
• Tuesday, October 30, 2018 from 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM – Town Hall-148 Peck Street
• Saturday, October 27, 2018* from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM – COA (Senior Center) 55 Bay State Road

(* PLEASE NOTE: Different Early Voting location on SATURDAY . . . COA/Senior Center not Town Hall.)

Registered voters also have the option to request an Early Voting ballot through the mail. Simply fill out an application and mail to the Town of Rehoboth – Town Clerk’s Office, 148 Peck Street, Rehoboth, MA 02769. You can find the application on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website:
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2018-Early-Ballot-Application.pdf

Please note, however, once a voter has cast an early voting ballot, the voter may no longer vote at the polls on Election Day. For the second time in Massachusetts, the first decision all voters will make is, which day to vote. Early voting will make the most fundamental right of our citizens more convenient than ever to exercise. We encourage all of our registered voters to exercise that right and take advantage of the opportunity to vote when it is most convenient for you. Please schedule your time to vote (see above) in the 2018 Gubernatorial Election – your voice – your vote! Thank you.

November 6, 2018 State Gubernatorial Election
The State Gubernatorial Election will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. ALL THREE PRECINCTS WILL BE OPEN. Precinct I is located at the Town Office Building - 148 Peck Street, Precinct II is located at the Gladys L. Hurrell Senior Center - 55 Bay State Road and Precinct III is located at the South Fire Station - 104 Pleasant Street. The polls will open at 7 a.m. and remain open until 8 p.m. As mentioned above, if you will be unavailable to vote on Tuesday, November 6th, please either request an absentee ballot or participate in the “Early Voting Sessions” from October 22, through November 2nd and let your voice be heard. Absentee ballot applications are available online at:
Short Form:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2018-Short-Form-Absentee-Ballot-Application.pdf
Individual or Family Member Form:
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee/English-Absentee-Ballot-Application.pdf

Absentee Ballot Applications will also be available at the Blanding Library, Post Office, and Senior Center in addition to Town Hall. We have not received our Absentee Ballot supply from the Commonwealth as of this writing. We are expecting them to arrive on October 1st; therefore, please call our office (508-252-6502 X-3109 or X-3110) to make sure we received the ballots prior to your venturing up to Town Hall to complete your application and vote. The deadline to file an absentee ballot application is Monday, November 5th @ 12:00 Noon. All completed absentee ballots must be returned to the Town Clerk’s office by 8:00 p.m. on November 6, 2018 in order to be processed in the State election.

Special Fall Town Meeting – Monday, October 29, 2018
By October 15th, you should receive the 10-29-18 Special Fall Town Meeting Warrant in the mail. Our Special Fall Town Meeting will be held at the Dighton-Rehoboth High School Auditorium at 7:00 PM. If you will be 18 years of age or older by October 29, 2018, you may register to vote by the Friday, October 19th deadline ~ just in time for Fall Town Meeting. Remember your vote is important in the way our Town is run and revenue is spent! However, you must be present in order to voice your opinion. Please come to Fall Town Meeting and be a part of the decision making process of our wonderful town. Hope to see you there.

Voter Registration – Town Meeting & State Election
We will have another special voter registration session on Wednesday, October 17th with extended hours, from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., for those who cannot make it to Town Hall during regular business hours. If you are unable to make it to town hall, you may also register online @ https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/ or www.RegisterToVoteMA.com. Reminder – if you are not registered by Wednesday, October 17, 2018 you will not be eligible to vote in the November 6, 2018 State Gubernatorial Election, and if you are not registered by Friday, October 19th, you will not be able to participate in the October 29th Special Fall Town Meeting.

State Primary Election Results – Tuesday, September 4, 2018
We had 11.79% of the voting population vote at the September 4, 2018 State Primary Election, which is up from six percent that voted at the September 19, 2017 Special State Senate Primary. 1,028 of the 8,719 registered voters voiced their opinion on who should be on the November 6, 2018 State Gubernatorial Election Ballot. The detailed summary of Rehoboth’s 9-4-18 Primary winners can be found on the Town Website @
https://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/sites/rehobothma/files/uploads/9-4-2018-state_primary-final_tally-updated.pdf

A summary of ballot type/party and voter participation in Rehoboth appears below:
Our elections would not be possible without the help of so many wonderful people. Therefore, a quick thank you to Lynn Shaker, Assistant Town Clerk, all election workers (Wardens, Clerks, Inspectors, and Constables) of all three precincts, election equipment set up/take down crews, Veterans, Highway Department personnel, and our Registrars for their time and dedication to the September 4, 2018 election. Thank you also to Bill Clement and Linna Sherman, of the COA-Senior Center, for the delicious bagged lunches the election workers, and town hall employees, were able to purchase. In addition thank you Aaron and the Dunkin Donuts staff for our wonderful early morning Precinct Coffees and donuts/muffins. Finally, thank you Sara, Billy & Hailey Vigneau, family and staff from Vinos for our absolutely amazing hot dinners, which were delivered to all three precincts in perfect condition! Thank you all!

Dog Licenses
Unfortunately after three mailed reminders, several monthly reminders in the Rehoboth Reporter, and reminder calls from our Animal Control Officer, we have issued non-criminal citations to those residents who have not paid their April 1, 2018 dog license fees. If you received a citation, please make sure your dog(s) has a valid rabies certificate and send or bring your licensing fees to Town Hall as soon as possible. To date we have registered 2,137 dogs up 62 from last year and we currently have 52 license renewals outstanding. As a reminder, the Town Clerk’s Office will be open for voter registration on Wednesday, October 17th and Friday, October 19th from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM if you would like to stop by and pay your dog license fees then. Dog licenses can be renewed online @ https://www.invoicecloud.com/rehobothgovsvcs, or by mail (if paying by mail, checks should be made payable to the “Town of Rehoboth”). We hope to hear from you or see you soon.

Marriage Intentions/Marriage Certificates
October is one of our busiest months for Marriage Intentions/Certificates in Rehoboth. Therefore, as a quick reminder of the process, both parties must come to Town Hall and complete a three-part packet (Marriage Intention, Marriage Supplement, and Marriage Worksheet). The parties must provide their social security number and mother’s maiden name. Upon completion of the documents, there is a “State required” 3-day waiting period before the couple may pick up their marriage license. The marriage license is good for 60-days. If you are not married within that timeframe, you must complete the process again. The charge is $20 for the Marriage Intention and $10 for the Marriage Certificate. Note: If you are using an officiant from another state (Rhode Island for example), your officiant must obtain a one-day solemnization certificate from the Secretary of State’s office prior to your wedding day. The application can be found on the Secretary of State’s website https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OneDayWeb/External/Welcome.aspx , the Rehoboth Town Clerk’s website https://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/marriage-licenses , or we have copies at Town Hall.

Finally, please remember the following events in October and early November: Rehoboth 375th Anniversary Celebration Parade, Sunday, October 7, 2018 from 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (no access to Route 44 [between New Street and Wilmarth Bridge Road] after 11:00 a.m.). Fall Special Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 29, 2018 in the Dighton-Rehoboth High School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Final voter registration for Special Town Meeting is Friday, October 19th from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. The State Gubernatorial Election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6, 2018 with all three precincts open from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Early Voting will take place between October 22, 2018 through November 2nd during regular business hours with evening sessions on Wednesday, October 24th and Tuesday, October 30th at Town Hall. Saturday Early Voting Hours at the COA-Senior Center will be Saturday, October 27th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Final voter registration for the State Gubernatorial Election is Wednesday, October 17th from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. One final reminder – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST QUARTERLY REAL ESTATE TAXES ARE DUE. Please have a wonderful October ~ Lynn and I wish you all a safe and healthy Columbus Day & Halloween! Happy “employment anniversary” Lynn Shaker ~ 13 years with the Town of Rehoboth as Assistant Town Clerk! Thank you for your dedication to the town and residents of Rehoboth.

Sincerely,
Laura