2009 Municipal Election Calendar
[Official Calendar]

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).