UPDATED March 28: Seven key seats are open, and two races for key seats are in place for the annual town election, on Saturday, April 1. Challenging incumbents are:
- John D. Leone, who served from 2007 through 2022 as Town Meeting moderator, is seeking one of two seats on the Select Board; and
- Laura B. Gitelson and Jill Kristin Krajewski, who have not run before in town, are seeking two of three seats for School Committee.
See also the eight-day campaign-finance reports, below.
Incumbents seeking reelection are:
- Select Board (two): Len Diggins, chair, and Diane Mahon, vice chair;
- School Committee (three): Liz Exton, chair; and Paul Schlichtman;
- Town clerk (one): Julianna Brazile; and
- Board of Assessors (one): Mary Winstanley O'Connor
Bill Hayner, incumbent on the School Committee, did not take out papers and is not seeking reelection. Asked for a statement about this on Jan. 30, Hayner wrote via email: "I have been on the committee for 12 years and now feel it is time to let others do the work. I would like to do some teaching and more volunteer work in the community."
Campaign-finance filings
Juli Brazile8-Day Filing
Len Diggins 8-Day Filing
Liz Exton 8-Day Filing
Laura Gitelson 8-Day Filing
Jill Krajewski 8-Day Filing
John Leone 8-Day Filing
Diane Mahon 8-Day Filing
Mary O'Connor 8-Day Filing
Paul Schlichtman 8-Day Filing
Campaign Finance Information - for town-wide candidates (includes link to register for online OCPF classes)
Track My Ballot will let you know when we mail your ballot or receive it back. Drop boxes are in place and will be checked daily.
Early voting in-person (at the town clerk's office):
Sat, March 25: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Mon, March 27: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tues, March 28: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wed, March 29: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Town Meeting candidate statements >>
Vote by mail: Deadline to apply for a ballot was 5 p.m. Monday, March 27.
Deadline to register for the town election was 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 22
Campaign kickoffs, events held:
Diggins: March 19, with hosts Sharon Grossman, June Rowe and Barbara Thornton.
Leone: March 19, Punjab Restaurant.
Schlichtman's held March 5, at Donut Villa.
Diggins' held March 5, on Zoom.
Krajewski campaign kickoff held March 4.
Leone campaign kickoff held Feb. 22.
Laura Gitelson kickoff held Feb. 12.
Read an introductionto Town Meeting by Steve Revilak on the Equitable Arlington website.
Election calendar: deadlines and instructions;
Candidates: who has taken out papers and who has been certified; and
Campaign-finance information for townwide candidates.
Candidates may request nomination papers from the clerk's office. Previously elected Town Meeting members do not need to take out papers to run again.
About Town Meeting openings >>
Voter resources
The Secretary of State's Elections Division has a resource page VoteinMa.com, where residents can find forms and information about voter registration and voting.
Apply to become an election worker
Complete the online form and the Town Clerk will be in touch with information about training.
Election FAQ
A FAQ document will be posted with information about the townwide races and Town Meeting.
Submit questions or comments if you have questions we can answer in the FAQ or on this webpage.
Voting by mail, absentee voting
Massachusetts voters have the option to vote early by mail in all elections, with no excuse required. Voters must apply every year. The 2023 applications are expected to be available soon. A postcard application will be sent to every Arlington resident in February to use to request a ballot for the town election on April 1.
Track My Ballot lets you check the status of your application, the date your ballot was mailed to you and when it was received by the town clerk to be counted on Election Day.
In addition to no-excuse early voting by mail, Massachusetts has absentee voting for those who qualify. While early Vote by Mail ballots are more common, there are special circumstances in which you need to apply for an absentee ballot instead. You can find information on who qualifies for an absentee ballot on the state's elections website.
Voter registration
Look up your voter registration status especially if you recently moved or changed your registration from one community to another. You are eligible to vote only in the community where you are currently registered.
There is a detailed explanation of the registration process on the state website.
You can register online through the secretary of state website if you have a Massachusetts drivers license. You can also print the voter registration form and submit it by mail, at the Town Hall drop box or by
You can cancel your registration using this form or providing the clerk's office with a similar signed note.
2023 election information from town website
Candidate profiles from ACMi >>
Opinion
Schlichtman seeks School Committee
Diggins seeks reelection to Select Board
Krajewski seeks School Committee
Gitelson announces for School Committee
Leone seeks Select Board
This news summary was published Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, based on information from the town website. It has been updated many times since then, most recently March 28, to add campaign-finance reports.
