The 2024 Burlington Town Election is Tomorrow. Have You Voted?

From 8:00 in the morning until 8:00 in the evening on Saturday, April 6, election workers and voters alike will be at Burlington High School for the 2024 Burlington Town Election.

Voting has been going on for weeks already, via both mail-in ballot and early in-person voting at Town Hall. But early in-person voting has ended, and you've now got to either get your ballot in or vote at the high school in person by 8:00 tomorrow evening.

What Am I Voting on at the Burlington Town Election (and Why Should I Care)?

The offices up for grabs at this year's election have the potential to impact nearly every aspect of how our town runs.

• The Select Board is the chief executive office of the town, and they can create and approve policies that affect us on an everyday basis. They also are responsible for voting to place certain measures on a local ballot, such as the debt exclusion we talked about yesterday.
• The School Committee is responsible for hiring and evaluating the Superintendent of Schools, setting policy, and setting the budget for the schools each year, which makes up for nearly half of the town's entire operating budget.
• The Planning Board has a say in much business and residential development in town. They can approve or deny, or place conditions on, businesses' site plans and homeowners' plans to alter their property.
• The Board of Health runs many programs and activities that impact our community's health, including working with businesses to ensure they are following all guidelines and issuing penalties if that's not the case. They also approve chicken permits and do many many other things that keep our community safe and healthy.
• The Housing Authority is responsible for administering the two elderly and disabled housing developments in Burlington along with the Section 8 program. They have the ability to secure grants and engage in other activities to improve the quality of life of residents of these developments.
• The Town Moderator is responsible for running a fair and effective Town Meeting, and for appointing members to advisory committees such as Ways & Means and the General & Zoning Bylaw Review Committees.
• There are more offices on the ballot, but perhaps most impactful of all is Town Meeting, which is responsible for voting in each department's budget and for approving any additions, deletions, and changes to the town's general and zoning bylaws. The 126 representatives (18 from each precinct) convene three times per year and together can exact influence the direction Burlington will take with respect to development and finance management.

Ultimately, local government has a huge influence on our everyday lives. Community involvement at the local level has real impact, and that starts with learning about who is representing you and electing people who share your values and vision for the town.

Read more about your local government at work at the Buzz's Government Profiles page.

Who Is Running for Election This Year?

Several contested races are on the ballot in this year's Burlington Town Election. Read profiles, listen to interviews, and view debates and forums with candidates for these seats at the BNEWS Election Center and the Burlington Buzz Election Module.

Town Moderator: Incumbent Bill Beyer and challenger, Adam Senesi, contest each other for a single year-long seat.

Town Meeting: Many precincts have contested races, and there is at least one write-in candidate. Mostly up for grabs are three-year seats, but occasionally someone vacates a seat before the end of their term and a new person is elected to fill for the remainder of the term; that's why you'll see some 1- and 2-year seats. Precincts 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 all have contested races this year!

Select Board: There are three candidates up for two 3-year seats this year. Incumbent Joe Morandi runs for his fourth, and possibly last, term in office, while long-time Ways & Means Committee member Brad Bond and 20-year Burlington resident, advocate, and town employee Sarah Cawley also run.

School Committee: Incumbent Martha Simon takes on SEPAC president and Ways & Means Committee member, Meghan Nawoichik.

Housing Authority: Eileen Sickler is up against Walter DeCost for one five-year term. Walter, a retired firefighter was appointed in 2023 but has not agreed to any public interviews or debates this season; Eileen was a part of the Housing Partnership Committee and has been enthusiastic about her campaign.

Read more about all the offices on the ballot and profiles of Town Meeting candidates before you go out and vote!