The attached forms are the proper formats for submitting a petitioned article for insertion into an annual town meeting (spring or fall) or a special town meeting warrant.

Petitions need to be submitted by the warrant’s publicized closing date.  The warrant closes 45 days prior to the start of Town Meeting. 

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 39, Section 10:  

• Ten (10) registered voters of the town may submit a petition article for inclusion in an annual Town Meeting warrant.  Winchester typically has two “annual” Town Meetings: one in the spring and another in the fall. Additionally per the Home Rule Charter Chapter 2-12(3) https://winchester.town.codes/Charter/2-12
• One-hundred (100) registered voters of the town may submit a petition article for inclusion in a Special Town meeting warrant.  https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter39/Section10

Proponents of petition articles are encouraged to secure more signatures than necessary in the event the signatures are disqualified for any reason.  Anyone signing the petition must be a registered voter in the Town of Winchester and each signature must be written clearly for certification and signed (not printed). The address must be the number and street address.

The article will appear on the town meeting warrant exactly as submitted, including spelling and punctuation.

The petitioned article will be subject to review by appropriate town boards, commissions, Town Counsel, Town Clerk and the Select Board.

 The lead petitioner of each petitioned article will be notified of any hearing or deliberation date.  The lead petitioner is responsible for moving the article at Town Meeting. The lead petitioner will be notified by the Winchester Town Clerk of the requirements for the public presentation to the town meeting.  Oral reports, written reports or video presentations are accepted.

 The petition page may be copied as needed.

Requires the signatures of 10 (ten) voters registered in the Town of Winchester

The article being submitted should be typed on the petition. The article should be READ AND THEN SIGNED BY THE VOTERS.

 THIS PETITION FORM IS THE ONLY FORM TO BE USED AND SHALL NOT BE ALTERED OR DEFACED IN ANY MANNER OR WILL BE REFUSED.

The person circulating and submitting the petition to the Winchester Town Manager’s Office will be the person called on to speak on said article unless specified otherwise.

Petitions should be submitted to the TOWN MANAGER’S OFFICE AND WILL THEN BE CERTIFIED BY THE TOWN CLERK/REGISTRAR OF VOTERS FOR SUBMISSION TO THE SELECT BOARD

The annual town meeting warrant shall close 45 days prior to the first session of spring or fall annual town meetings. Spring Town Meeting is convened on the last Monday in April annually and business continues on a Thursday – Monday rotation until all the business of the town meeting is complete.  Fall Town Meeting is convened on the First Monday in November and business continues on a Thursday – Monday rotation until all the business of the town meeting is complete; Note: fall town meeting exception; in years when the Town Clerk’s Office conducts State and Federal Elections in November, the Fall Town Meeting shall convene on the Thursday after the Tuesday State or Federal Election.  

PERSON SUBMITTING THE PETITION:                                                                                                                       

Email address: ­                                                           Phone Number:                                                                   

                                                                                        Best time to be reached                                                                

Street Address:                                                                                                        

Received by the Town Manager Staff:                                                                                                              

Submitted to the Town Clerk/Registrar ­                                                                                                                       

For use by Registrars

Certification of voters by registrars                                          Date:                                                       

Number of Voters                                                                          Registrar of Voters' Signature

Accepted:                                                                                                                                                                                    

Rejected:                                                                                                                                                                                   

Date: ­                                                                                                                                                                                          

Submission of a Petition to the spring or fall Annual Town Meeting for the Town of Winchester, MA

We, the undersigned registered voters of the Town of Winchester, having read the article listed below, do hereby petition the Select Board, requesting that they place the following ARTICLE on the warrant for the next Town Meeting:

To see if the Town will vote to……” Insert warrant language here 

INSTRUCTIONS TO SIGNERS:

Your signature should be written as substantially as registered.  If you are prevented, by physical disability, from writing you may authorize some person to write your name and residence in your presence.  

SIGNERS STATEMENT   We are qualified voters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and of the Town of Winchester.

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