Natick 2022 Election: Everything You Need To Know To Vote

NATICK, MA — Voters in Natick will head to the polls Tuesday for the 2022 town election, which will feature contested races for school committee and Select Board.

The 2022 election will feature a few big changes compared to the past two elections.

First, pandemic voting rules in Massachusetts have expired, which means most voters will have to physically go to the polls on Tuesday to cast a ballot. No-excuse voting by mail may return, but has not been approved at the state level yet.

And second: the 2020 Census results have caused a few changes to voting precincts in town. That means your polling place might be different from the last election.

Here's everything you need to know about the candidates running in 2022 and how to vote.

In-person voting

Polls will be open in Natick from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. The town will offer five polling places, depending on your precinct.

• Precinct 1: Kennedy Middle School (165 Mill St.)
• Precinct 2: Kennedy Middle School (165 Mill St.)
• Precinct 3: Kennedy Middle School (165 Mill St.)
• Precinct 4: Wilson Middle School (22 Rutledge Rd.)
• Precinct 5: Wilson Middle School (22 Rutledge Rd.)
• Precinct 6: Lilja Elementary School (41 Bacon St.)
• Precinct 7: Community-Senior Center (117 East Central St.)
• Precinct 8: Morse Institute Library (14 East Central St.)
• Precinct 9: Community-Senior Center (117 East Central St.)
• Precinct 10: Community-Senior Center (117 East Central St.)

Don't know where you should vote? Check the Secretary of State's website.

Absentee voting

The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot passed on March 23. If you received one already, you can mail it to the Town Clerk. You can also place it in the drop box outside Town Hall.

Unlike the two previous pandemic elections, absentee voting will only be allowed this year under limited circumstances.

• You're going to be out of town on Election Day
• You have a disability prevents you from going to the polls
• You have a religious belief that prevents you from voting in person

Who's running

The 2022 Natick election features two competitive races, plus a ballot question. Click the links in the Select Board and school committee races to read candidate profiles. An (i) indicates an incumbent.

Select Board (pick 2)

• Kathryn Coughlin
• Bruce Evans
• Cody Jacobs

School Committee (pick 3)

• Cathi Collins (i)
• Henry W. Haugland II (i)
• Julie M. McDonough (i)
• Kathleen Flathers
• Elise Gorseth

Planning Board

• Douglas L. Landry

Associate Planning Board

• Christine Therrien

Recreation and Parks Commission

• David Ordway (i)
• Jessica Ordway (i)

Ballot Question

Shall the town approve the Charter Amendment proposed by vote of the Natick 2021 Fall Annual Town Meeting under article 34, summarized below?

• Yes
• No

Natick Home Rule Charter Article 3, Section 3-14(a) which concerns how Housing Authority members are elected, to assure that the composition of the Natick Housing Authority members are elected follows the requirements of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 121B and its regulations.

Article 3, Section 3-14(a) will now read:

(a) Composition, Term of Office - There shall be a Housing Authority which shall consist of five members serving for terms of five years each so arranged that the term of one member shall expire each year. These members shall be elected or appointed in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 121B and the regulation promulgated therunder.