How to Run for Office and Town Meeting 2025

Guide

Nomination papers for candidates running for Town Offices and Town Meeting Members will be available in the Town Clerk’s Office beginning Tuesday, January 2, 2025, for the Annual Town Election to be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

Town Offices

Candidates for Town Office must obtain at least 50 valid signatures of registered voters town wide.  The last day to file nomination papers is Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

Who Is Running?

You can see who is running for town offices and Town Meeting on the Town Clerk’s website. The information is updated daily and reflects who has qualified for the ballot, who has taken out papers, and who is certified. Many thanks to Town Clerk Louise Miller for making this information easily accessible.

See the Candidate List.

The following slate of offices will be on the April ballot:

• 1 Select Board Member for a term of 3 years

• 3 School Committee Members for a term of 3 years
• 1 Moderator for a term of 3 years
• 1 Town Clerk for a term of 3 years
• 2 Park and Recreation Commissioners for a term of 3 years
• 1 Assessor for a term of 3 years
• 1 Commissioner of Trust Funds for a term of 3 years
• 2 Needham Public Library Trustees for a term of 3 years
• 2 Memorial Park Trustees (1 Veteran for a term of 3 years and 1 Non-Veteran for a term of 3 years)
• 2 Board of Health Members for a term of 3 years
• 1 Planning Board Member for a term of 5 years
• 1 Needham Housing Authority Member for a term of 5 years

Town Meeting

New Town Meeting Member candidates must obtain at least 10 valid signatures of registered voters in their precinct. The last day for new Town Meeting Member candidates to file nomination papers is Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 5pm. Incumbent Town Meeting Members must return the acceptance form (which they will receive by email) to the Town Clerk’s Office by Tuesday, February 11.

The following Town Meeting Member positions will be on the ballot:

Eight Town Meeting Members from Precinct A for Three Years
Eight Town Meeting Members from Precinct B for Three Years
Eight Town Meeting Members from Precinct C for Three Years
Eight Town Meeting Members from Precinct D for Three Years
Eight Town Meeting Members from Precinct E for Three Years
Eight Town Meeting Members from Precinct F for Three Years
Eight Town Meeting Members from Precinct G for Three Years
Eight Town Meeting Members from Precinct H for Three Years
Two Town Meeting Members from Precinct H for One Year
Eight Town Meeting Members from Precinct I for Three Years
One Town Meeting Member from Precinct I for One Year
Eight Town Meeting Members from Precinct J for Three Years.

Candidates for re‑election will be listed on the ballot first, in alphabetical order, followed by new candidates in alphabetical order.  For information call the Town Clerk’s Office at 781-455‑7500 ext. 503.

Source: http://www.needhamma.gov/townclerk

Version 2-4 of the Guide adds dates to the calendar and includes an additional 1-year Town Meeting Member seat in Precinct I and in Precinct H (now 2 1-year terms in H).

Download the Guide

Note the links in the embedded pdf below will only function if the file is downloaded.