Vote for Indigenous Peoples Day

Vote YES on Question #1 at the Wellesley Town Election on March 2, 2021. Join the 14 states and 130 cities around the country that celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day to acknowledge the Original Peoples of Turtle Island –this island we now call North America– as well as Indigenous communities across the globe.

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What is Ballot Question 1?

Question 1: “Should the Select Board, with the understanding that since 1977 Indigenous people of our country have requested Indigenous Peoples Day as a recognition of their humanity, culture, and history and further, that our country was built on Native lands, proclaim the second Monday of October henceforth be commemorated as Indigenous Peoples’ Day and cease to recognize Columbus Day in Wellesley in recognition of the position of Indigenous Peoples as natives to these lands, and the suffering they faced during and after the European conquest? This question is not binding.”  

Question 1 is a non-binding ballot measure. It has the power to demonstrate our community’s support for honoring Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day and to encourage the Wellesley Select Board to make this change official. If the Select Board makes this change, our town will officially recognize Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday of October. This will be reflected on the town’s calendars and websites, and it will still be a three day weekend. Columbus Day will continue to be a federal and Massachusetts state holiday.

Voter Registration Information

All Wellesley registered voters may vote in the March 2, 2021 Town Election. If you are not registered to vote or are not sure if you are registered to vote in Wellesley, check the Secretary of State’s website.

If you are not registered, the deadline to register to vote in the Town Election is February 10, 2021.

In this year’s Town Election, you can vote by Mail-in-ballot or in person.

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Voting by Mail

To Vote by Mail you must first fill out an application. Please send in your application as soon as possible. You will need to apply for a 2021 Town Election ballot even if you requested and were sent ballots for the Fall 2020 elections.
 
MAIL-IN-BALLOT APPLICATIONS

The application for a mail-in ballot, pictured on the right, will be included with your town census arriving in the mail during the first two weeks of January. You can also download this Vote by Mail Application.

Complete and sign the ballot application form.  Return the form to the Town Clerk by email to Elections@wellesleyma.gov, by dropping it in the Elections & Payment Drop Box outside of Town Hall, or by mailing it to:
 
Office of the Town Clerk
Wellesley Town Hall
525 Washington Street
Wellesley, MA 02482
 
All mail-in-ballot applications must be received by the Town Clerk by Wednesday, February 24 at 5:00 PM.
 
VOTING BY MAIL
If you need the mail-in-ballot to be mailed to you out of Wellesley, please allow about 10 mailing days for receipt of the ballot and return of the ballot so it is received in time.
 
Completed Vote by Mail ballots may be mailed to the Town Clerk’s Office (see above) or dropped off in the Town Hall Election and Payment Drop Box.
 
Ballots must be received no later than Tuesday, March 2 at 8:00 PM.
 
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Voting in Person on Election Day

All precincts will be open for in person voting on March 2, 2021 from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Due to COVID-19 concerns, polling locations for some precincts have changed.

  • Precincts A (Bates), B (Sprague) and C (Upham) are moving to the Municipal Light Plant at 4 Municipal Way.
  • Precincts D (Schofield) and E (Fiske) are moving to the Warren Building at 90 Washington Street.
  • Precinct F (Dana Hall) is moving to the Wellesley Village Congregational Church at 2 Central Street.
  • Precinct G will vote at the Wellesley Free Library at 530 Washington Street.
  • Precinct H will vote at the Tolles Parsons Center – Council on Aging at 500 Washington Street.

Further information can be found on the New Polling Locations Map and Polling Locations Change Evaluation Report.