Bedford Voters - How would you like to vote all in one day?

Bedford Voters - How would you like to vote for all town & school articles on the same day? Again this year, voters are asked to vote on March 12th & then again on March 13th to vote at the town budgetary meeting at 7:00pm. If you are ill or away on March 13th, an absentee ballot is not allowed as it is not an official ballot system for the town budget.

In March 2023, 2,304 voters voted in favor of a establishing a Charter Commission to analyze whether it would be in the best interest of the town to revise the Bedford Town Charter by changing how we vote on the town budget.

After 10 meetings & 2 public hearings, the Commission voted unanimously to put the question on the ballot as to whether to accept the Charter Commission’s recommendation to adopt the Official Ballot form of voting for the town budget. The Bedford voters are accustomed to the Official Ballot voting system because each year we vote for elections, special warrant articles and the school budget by way of Official Ballot.

It is critical that voters get out to vote on Tuesday, March 12th & vote YES on Article 2 - “Shall the municipality approve the Charter revision recommended by the Charter Commission?” (Requires a 3/5 ballot vote approval to pass)

I am a Charter Commission member and am in full support of adopting the official ballot for the town budget as is the majority of the 9-member Commission. The revised Town Charter language has been approved by legal counsel and state officials. All Charter Commission meetings and the approved final report are on the Bedford town website. Unfortunately, the Town Council voted to reject the Charter Commission’s recommendation. The Town Council is asking Bedford taxpayers to authorize a total spending of approximately $76,272,146 ($1.47/$1,000 increase) when we vote March 12 & 13th. The town budget deserves a 7am-7pm voting timeframe not a 7:00pm meeting attended by 50-60 townspeople. The voters also deserve access to an absentee ballot for the town budget but it will only be available if 3/5th of voters approve Article 2 on March 12th.

Please vote Yes on Tuesday, March 12th on Article 2. Share with your neighbors.
Thank you.

Linda Rea Camarota
Charter Commission member
16 Weymouth Drive Bedford

603-540-8911