Chelmsford Election 2021: Early Voting, Candidates, Where To Vote

CHELMSFORD, MA — Early in-person voting for the annual town elections start Saturday.

Each year the town holds annual local town wide elections on the first Tuesday in April. This year's in-person election will be held April 6, but —in a first for a local election— mail-in ballot requests and early in person votes start now. Here's what to know:

Who is running:

There are two town wide contested races to watch: Select Board and Planning Board.

There are two seats up on the Select Board; and five people, including an incumbent are running. As for Planning Board, there are two seats up for election and both incumbents plan to fight for them with two others vying to take over. Click on the blue hyperlinks to read more about each candidate.

Two Select Board Members for three years: Contested

• Mark Charles Carota: Read more about why Mark Carota is running
• April E. Danielson: Read more about why April Danielson is running
• Latosha Denise Dixon, Read more about why she is running
• George R. Dixon, Jr. (Incumbent), Read more about why George Dixon is running again

Three Planning Board Members for three years; Contested

• Deirdre Connolly, Read more about why she's running.
• Paul A. McDougall, Jr., Read more about why he's running.
• Glenn A. Kohl (I),
• Timothy R. Shanahan (I)

Patch reached out to Kohl and Shanahan, but neither replied to request for a profile.

Then there are 65 seats up for a vote for the town's legislative body. But only Town Meeting member seats contested are in Precincts 1 and Precinct 3. Here's a complete list of the candidates.

How to vote early:

In person early voting will take place at the town offices on the first floor at these times and dates:

Saturday, March 27 - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Monday, March 29 – 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday, March 30 – 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday, March 31– 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday April 1 – 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday, April 2 – 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Vote by mail

If you would rather not vote in person, you can still vote by mail. You must send your signed application to the Town Clerk's office as soon as possible, so that it gets to them by 5 p.m. March 31.

If you applied during the last election for a mail in ballot, that doesn't count for this election. You must submit a new application. You can email your signed application to townclerk@chelmsfordma.gov

Candidate debates:

Chelmsford Club To Host Select Board Candidate Debate 7 p.m. March 31

League of Women Voters: 7: 30 p.m. March 25

April 6 Precinct Polling Locations: