2009 Municipal Election Calendar (and Advice for Candidates)
[Official Calendar]

Wed, July 1: Municipal Election Nomination Papers available at Election Commission office, 8:30am-5:00pm. Nomination papers will be available through the July 31 submission deadline, but it is advisable that a candidate pick up papers early and get started collecting signatures. The process is an excellent way for a new candidates to “get their feet wet” and acclimate to the process of asking for support. The first page of your nomination papers must be notarized, by the way, and there are a total of three sheets. [Kinko's will notarize documents, by the way.]
You will also want to get a current database of registered voters. This is available from the Election Commission free of charge to any candidate who has pulled nomination papers. Voter history files and the street listing are also available. If you are a legitimate candidate and want a merged file showing all currently registered Cambridge voters with their 12-year voting history in Cambridge elections (if they voted - not who they voted for!!), you can request it from me free of charge.
If you plan to solicit online donations via PayPal or active.com or some other service, you should read the OCPF memo about contributions to political committees by credit or debit card.

Fri, July 31: 5:00pm deadline to submit nomination papers & statements of financial interest for candidates at the Election Commission Office (which will remain open until 5:00pm). This 5:00pm deadline is absolute. If you show up with papers at 5:01pm, they will not be accepted. A minimum of 50 valid signatures must be filed and a candidate may submit up to 100 signatures. Once a voter's signature has been recorded for a particular candidate, it cannot be used for another candidate in the same race. That is, a voter should sign for exactly one candidate for City Council and one candidate for School Committee. Candidates should submit as many signatures as possible over the minimum of 50 because it is very likely that some signatures will not be certified. It is advisable that all signatures be checked against the voter registration list before submitting them. Candidates do not have to submit all their signatures at one time, and it is advisable that signatures be submitted as each sheet becomes full. The Election Commission staff traditionally checks signatures soon after they are submitted, so it is possible to know how many signatures have been tentatively certified in case it is necessary to obtain more signatures to reach the minimum of 50 certified signatures. Actual certification is only official when the Election Commission votes to approve them.

Fri, Aug 14: 5:00pm deadline for Election Commission to certify signatures on nomination papers.

Tues, Aug 18: 5:00pm deadline for municipal candidates to file withdrawal of nomination.

Wed, Oct 14: 8:00pm deadline to register to vote in municipal election. In person registration hours are 8:30am to 8:00pm at the Election Commission office only. (Mail in registration must be postmarked by October 14).

Mon, Oct 26: 5:00pm deadline for School Committee candidates and Political Committees to file Municipal Campaign & Political Finance Reports. (City Council candidates should consult their OCPF packets regarding depository-filing requirements). City Council candidates are required under state law to set up a depository account at a bank. The bank will report all deposits and expenditures directly to the state's Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF). School Committee candidates are not required to set up a depository account, but they must file a campaign finance report in mid-October and at the end of the year. Fees charged by local banks vary greatly - from no fees and interest-bearing accounts to fees charged every two weeks. Shopping around is advised.

Fri, Oct 30: Election Commission office will be open 8:30am to 5:00pm for over-the-counter absentee voting.

Sat, Oct 31: Election Commission office will be open 9:00am to 5:00pm for over-the-counter absentee voting (based on what occurred in 2007).

Mon, Nov 2: Noontime deadline to apply for absentee ballot, either for mail-in or over-the-counter voting.

Tues, Nov 3: Municipal Election. Polls are open 7:00am until 8:00pm. All absentee ballots must arrive at the Election Commission office by 8:00pm to be counted. Overseas Absentee Ballots are due by 5:00pm on Fri, Nov 13, but must be postmarked by Tues, Nov 3.

Ballot count begins at the Cambridge Senior Center, 806 Mass. Ave., Central Square after the polls close. It is expected that the Election Commission will report preliminary election results Tuesday evening, but this tally does not include write-in ballots and other ballots not yet counted for a variety of reasons.

Wed, Nov 4: 9am-5pm. Ballot count resumes at Senior Center, 806 Mass. Ave., Central Square. The entire process is usually complete by early evening and the unofficial election results will be announced upon completion.

Fri, Nov 13: Overseas Absentee Ballots and Provisional Ballots will be counted on Fri, Nov 13 at 5:00pm. Federal law requires an additional ten days after Election Day to allow for any overseas military absentee ballots to arrive, and the final official election results will be announced then. [There were no such ballots in the 2005 or the 2007 election.]

The Election Commission Office is open Mon, 8:30am-8:00pm; Tues-Thurs, 8:30am-5:00pm; and Fri, 8:30am-Noon (except for July 3, July 6, Sept 7, and Oct 12 holidays).