October 2, 2026
Hello All ~ Happy February ~ I hope you are staying warm and healthy! As a friendly reminder, Real Estate Tax Bills were due Monday, February 2nd. Payment can be made via mail, drop box outside of Town Hall (340 Anawan Street) or online @ https://www.rehobothma.gov/ . If paying online, please scroll down to “Online Payments” and then click “Tax Payments” on the Town’s homepage.
AWESOME NEWS . . . CONGRATULATIONS JENNIFER HOSE – PROMOTION
I am pleased to announce the promotion of Jennifer Hose to the position of Assistant Town Clerk. Jenn’s promotion enables her to perform additional duties as specified under M.G.L. Chapter 41§19, and it also recognizes her strong skills, professionalism, and dedication to public service. Throughout her time with the Town, Jenn has consistently demonstrated a commitment to serving the needs of our residents and supporting the work of other Town Departments. I would also like to thank the Board of Selectmen for their assistance and approval of Jenn’s appointment. Working alongside Kerrie, Jenn looks forward to continuing a strong team-based approach as Assistant Town Clerks, collaboratively serving our residents and supporting Town employees with professionalism and dedication. Please join me in congratulating Jenn on this well-deserved promotion. We look forward to her continued contributions in this expanded role. Congratulations Jenn!!!
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF REHOBOTH’S e-CODE-360
As you may remember, when I became Town Clerk in 2013, my goal was to make Town Government more accessible for Rehoboth residents. After several years in the making, last year we shared Rehoboth’s new online format to view our General and Zoning Bylaws along with other Town Regulations through General Code’s eCode360. Here is a direct link to the Codification: https://ecode360.com/RE3747 . We hope you have enjoyed using our new online bylaws and that you found they are much easier to work with. Thank you again, everyone involved in providing our residents with this wonderful online tool available 24/7 at the resident’s convenience.
2026 REHOBOTH TOWN CENSUS
By now, you should have received your 2026 census form, 2026 calendar and departmental listing, dog license renewal, septic safety flyer and notification of the renaming of Rehoboth’s Polling Location. If you would like an extra 2026 calendar for you or your family, just call, e-mail our office or stop by Town Hall. If you did not receive your census mailer, please let us know at 508-252-6502 x-3109 or 3112 or email me TownClerk@RehobothMA.gov.
I would like to thank the Rehoboth households that quickly reviewed their 2026 census data, made any necessary changes, and returned the forms to us ~ thank you all !!! If you have not returned your census, please take a moment and send it back please. Census forms were due to our office by January 31, 2026. This year, residents were afforded the opportunity to drop off their census forms at the outside drop box at Town Hall (340 Anawan Street), deliver in-person to our office, fax, mail, or scan and e-mail them in. We also left census drop boxes around the Town (Town Hall foyer, Bristol-Savings Bank lobby, Blanding Library lobby and the COA Senior Center at Francis Farm). It is exciting to see that residents can choose the most convenient way to respond to their 2026 Census. I would especially like to thank those families who processed their census forms and dog tags online. Our office is processing your census changes and preparing the documents for our Registrars. During the months of February/March, the Registrars will begin contacting those residents who have not returned their 2026 census forms. For the households that have not responded to date, please respond as soon as possible so we do not have to bother you with a phone call or a second mailing ~ thank you.
As an added feature on the 2026 Census form, if you are a registered voter, you will note an (A) or (I) under the first column of the census “Voter Status”. Your political party is listed in the last column “Political Party”. Under Voter Status, “A” represents an active voter; “I” represents an inactive voter. Please contact our office as soon as possible if you have an “I” after your Voter Status. Also, many people seem to be confused with a political party of “U” by their name. The State considers all “Independent” voters as “Unenrolled”; therefore, the letter “U” appearing in the political party column. Independent is the same as Unenrolled. An Unenrolled or Independent voter has the opportunity to choose the Party ballot they wish to vote during a Primary Election. By selecting a ballot type for this election, your registered party does not change your party status from Unenrolled/Independent. It just lets us know what ballot you would like to view and vote for a particular Primary Election.
Just a reminder, the census form does not register you to vote or allow you to change your political designation. We’ve come across many census forms in the past with the party designations crossed out and replaced with something else or a designation added to individuals who are not currently registered to vote. If you would like to register to vote or make a change to the party designation, you must complete the appropriate forms as we need your signature to either register you to vote, change your political party affiliation, or remove you from our voter rolls. This can be done in person, by mail, or online. Simply call us at 508-252-6502 x-3109, x-3112 or x-3110 or e-mail us at TownClerk@RehobothMA.gov to request a Mail-In Voter Registration Form. If you prefer to register or change your political affiliation online, please go to www.RegisterToVoteMA.com. Mail-in voter registration applications are also available @ https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Voter-reg-mail-in.pdf - please complete the application, save it, and e-mail, drop off or mail the signed form to us. To be eligible to vote in the upcoming Annual Town Election on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, all voter registrations and/or political party changes must be made no later than 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
THE ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION
The Annual Town Election for the Town of Rehoboth will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, with the polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Polling Location for all four precincts is Francis Farm Community Center (27 Francis Farm Road) – Heritage Meeting Hall, formerly known as the Museum building. If you would like to review the facility and layout of the polling location, please visit the Town Website at: https://www.rehobothma.gov/home/news/rehoboth-changes-its-centralized-polling-location-francis-farm-community-center-museum Additional details will be communicated as we get closer to the election. As always, the Town Website will have updated polling information when available.
Nomination papers are now available for any registered voter in Rehoboth wishing to run for election on the Town ballot and who chooses not to seek a nomination through their registered party’s caucus process. Nomination papers may be picked up by prospective candidates, at the Town Clerk’s office (340 Anawan Street/Route 118) beginning January 2, 2026, and must be returned, signed by a minimum of 50 registered voters. All signed and completed nomination papers are due back to the Board of Registrars at the Town Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on, or before, Tuesday, February 17th.
Positions to be elected on the ballot for 2026 are Moderator (one for 1 year), Board of Selectmen (two positions for 3 years), Assessor (one for 3 years), School Committee (two positions for 3 years), Housing Authority (one for five years), Planning Board (one for 5 years), Park Commission (one for 5 years), Constable (one position for 3 years) and Water Commissioner (two positions for 3 years).
The Democratic Town Committee Caucus will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Arcade Building/Francis Farm Community Complex – 27 Francis Farm Road at 10:00 AM.
The Republican Town Committee Caucus will be held on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, in the Franis Hall/COA Building at the Francis Farm Community Center – 27 Francis Farm Road at 7:00 PM. An alternate date/inclement weather date of Thursday, February 26, 2026 - 7:00 PM. (Francis Hall/COA Building), has also been scheduled, at the Francis Farm Complex.
The final voter registration date, to be eligible to vote in the Annual Town Election, is scheduled for Saturday, March 28th from 8AM to 5PM. Prospective voters are reminded that they may also register to vote online at www.RegisterToVoteMA.com, by calling the Town Clerk’s Office to request a Mail-In voter registration form, or download a form @
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/Voter-reg-mail-in.pdf
ABSENTEE & MAIL-IN BALLOT REQUESTS
Applications for absentee ballots are available as of January 2nd and may be obtained from the Town Clerk’s Office or online @
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee/English-Absentee-Ballot-Application.pdf
An absentee ballot may only be obtained by written request and with the voter’s original signature. Most voters do not qualify to receive an absentee ballot to be sent to them. Massachusetts allows voters that QUALIFY to vote by absentee ballot if the voter is one of the following:
If you do not qualify for an “Absentee Ballot”, you can vote by mail by completing the “No Excuse” Vote by Mail ballot application detailed below this paragraph.
NO EXCUSE EARLY VOTING BY MAIL – “VOTE BY MAIL”
The 2022-Votes Act legislation approved in June of 2022, allows voters who do not qualify for an Absentee Ballot to vote by mail by completing the “Vote by Mail” application @
Applications for both absentee and vote-by-mail must be received by the Town Clerk by 5PM on the 5th business day before an election. We recommend applying earlier than the deadline as the US Postal delivery services outside of Rehoboth are not consistent and can range from 2 to 11 days. Reminder . . . both Absentee and Vote By Mail applications are only good for one calendar year.
2026 – ANNUAL RABIES CLINIC
Keep them safe . . . inoculate! The Annual Rehoboth-Seekonk $15 Dog and Cat Rabies Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026. Again, this year the rabies clinic will be held at the Seekonk Public Safety Complex, Route 44 (500 Taunton Avenue. The Rehoboth Town Clerk’s Office Staff will be there to renew your 2026 Dog Licenses. If you would like to help us register the residents for their dog and cat rabies shots, please let us know. Please check the Town Website for up-to-date Rabies Clinic information at https://www.rehobothma.gov/town-clerk/pages/dog-licenses. For more details either on the rabies clinic or helping us staff the event, please call 508-252-6502 X-3112, 3109 or 3110 ~ thank you.
TOWN HALL MAIL & ONLINE PAYMENTS
Very Important – Please, it is requested that when you send correspondence to any office at the Town Hall, you only include information specific to the department you want to communicate with. As an example, residents might send in their tax payment along with their census form or dog license. Tax payments go to the Tax Collector whereas census forms or dog licenses go to the Town Clerk’s Office. By including multiple offices in one envelope, it may delay processing your requests or payments. Also, there are two separate “Online Payment” accounts on the Town Website: Tax Payments and Town Clerk Payments. Please make sure, if you are processing your taxes online, that you are selecting Tax Payments and for all Town Clerk payments online (Business Certificates, Birth – Marriage – Death Certificates, Genealogy Fees, Raffle Permits, Street Listings and Voter Lists) that you are selecting “Town Clerk Payments” and not Tax Payments. Please Note: Effective 1-1-2022 all Dog Licensing online payments, now appears under “Online Permitting” located on homepage of the website @ www.RehobothMA.gov , not Invoice Cloud. Thank you for your assistance.
2026 DOG LICENSES
The 2026 Dog Licenses are now available and may be purchased through the Town Clerk’s Office. Thank you to the almost 600 dog owners who have already processed their 2026 Dog Licenses!! Again in 2026, residents will be able to renew their dog licenses online with a Debit/Credit Card or Electronic Check (ACH/EFT). Those dog owners who registered their dogs on our online dog licensing program “Permiteyes” know they are able to renew their dog’s license online through the town’s permitting program located on the Town Website @
https://www.rehobothma.gov/home/pages/online-permitting -
please look for the Green “Dog Licensing” button and search for your dog’s record. Instructions on how to use the online permitting program can be found online at:
https://www.rehobothma.gov/town-clerk/pages/dog-licenses .
Whether renewing online, via mail, in person, through the outside drop box or census drops around town, dog license applications must be accompanied by a current year rabies certificate (with a vaccination date covering the current licensing year) and proof of spay or neuter [if applying for the $10 licensing fee] unless we already have your documentation on file in the Clerk’s Office. If you are unsure, please give our office a call and we can tell you how up-to-date our information is, or you can simply search the information on the Permiteyes Dog Licensing program located on the town website: https://www.rehobothma.gov/home/pages/online-permitting . Dog owners should note that the license(s) will not be returned unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is included (the current postage is .74¢ for one dog tag, $1.03 for two or three dog tags and $1.32 for four dog tags).
Reminder, all residents 70-years old or over do not need to pay the $10 or $20 yearly dog licensing fee. As you may remember, I submitted an article at the May 8, 2017 Annual Town Meeting (Article 15) requesting Town Meeting vote to accept MGL CHAPTER 140 SECTION 139(c), which states “No fee shall be charged for a license issued under this section for a service animal as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act or regulations promulgated thereunder. No fee shall be charged for a license for a dog owned by a person aged 70 years or over in a city or town that accepts this provision”. Town meeting did approve the acceptance of MGL Chapter 140 Section 139 (c), which permits the Town Clerk’s Office to waive dog licensing fees for service animals and for dogs owned by any Rehoboth resident 70 years of age and older. Proof of rabies vaccinations for each dog and proof of the dog owner’s age (70 or older) is required. As per Town Counsel, the waiving of fees does not include Kennel Fees.
As a reminder, the Town Offices will be closed on Monday, February 16th in honor of President’s Day. We hope you enjoy the President’s Day holiday. Also, a Happy Valentine’s Day to all from the Town Clerk’s Office. Speaking of the Town Clerk’s Office – Congratulations Jenn and Kerrie on your third anniversary with the Town of Rehoboth/Town Clerk’s Office. It is a sincere pleasure to work with you.
In closing, we are hoping for warmer weather soon; we are not very happy with Punxsutawney Phil . . . we were hoping Spring was coming early. Thank you all – please stay healthy, safe and warm!! I look forward to talking with you in March. Please enjoy your February – Laura, Kerrie & Jenn
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