Board of Registrars

The Board of Registrars is responsible for maintaining accurate lists of registered voters in the town, conducting elections, accepting nomination papers, and certifying initiative or referendum petitions. The Board also conducts an annual census and has other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned under Chapter 51 of the Massachusetts General Laws.

The Board of Registrars consists of three (3) persons appointed for three (3) year terms by the Select Board, with one (1) member appointed each year as prescribed in Chapter 51, Section 15, of the Massachusetts General Laws. The fourth member of the Board is the elected Town Clerk. The board members shall represent the two leading political parties as nearly as possible. The town clerk need not be enrolled in a political party.

Hanover Voter Registration

Residents may register at the Board of Registrars Office or Town Clerk’s Office any weekday during business hours. Special voter registration hours are provided twenty (20) days before any election or Town Meeting. At that time, the hours are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Residents may also register at any Registry of Motor Vehicles Office. Mail-in Voter Registration forms may be obtained online at www.sec.state.ma.us.

Qualifications for Voting

A voter must meet the following qualifications to vote in Hanover:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen           
  • Must be a Hanover resident
  • Must be at least 18 years old on or before the next election

Applying for an Absentee Ballot

Absentee Ballots may only be applied for if the voter

  1. Will be absent from Hanover during the hours the polls are open;
  2. Has a physical disability; or
  3. Religious beliefs prevent the voter from coming to the polls on election day.

Permanently disabled voters may obtain a note from their physician which should then be mailed to the Town Clerk/Board of Registrars and twenty-eight (28) days before each election, an application for an Absentee Ballot will be automatically mailed to the voter.

A voter may request an Absentee Ballot be mailed to him/her via a signed note or by an application that must be filled out and signed. A "family member" may also request an Absentee Ballot for another "family member". This "family member" must be a spouse or person residing in the same household, in-laws, father, mother, sister or brother of the whole or half blood, son, daughter, adopting parent or adopted child, stepparent or stepchild, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, grandparent or grandchild.  You can also obtain an Absentee Ballot Application at the Town Clerk's Office or online at www.sec.state.ma.us.

Voting at the Town Clerk's Office

A voter may cast his/her absentee ballot at Town Hall during normal working hours. All absentee ballots must be applied for by noon on the day before the election. At that time, the Town Clerk's office closes to the public to prepare for the election.

No witnesses are needed, unless the voter is assisted. If assisted, the person doing the assisting signs the bottom of the ballot and gives the reason why. The voter returns the ballot by mail or in person to the Clerk.

Note: All absentee ballots requested for a family member must be mailed to the voter. They may not be hand carried to the voter, but they may be hand carried back to the Town Clerk’s Office by a family member.

Staff Contacts

Name Title Phone
Catherine Harder-Bernier Town Clerk 781-826-5000, ext. 1079
Carol Mattes Executive Administrative Assistant 781-826-5000 ext 1060

Board Members

Name Title
Kim Notarangelo Member
Laura Stella Member
Kathleen Miller Member