Nomination Papers for 2026 Burlington Town Election Available Now

The nomination phase of Burlington's 2026 local election is officially underway, with nomination papers available at the Town Clerk's office (Town Hall, 29 Center Street) as of Friday, January 2.

Burlington's annual town election takes place each year in April, separate from state and national primary and general elections. This spring election is a time for residents to exercise their right to have a say in who represents them at the local level, making decisions about policy, local bylaws, and how money is spent in town.

Seats on local boards come up for election on a staggered basis, ensuring continuity in leadership while also offering residents fresh opportunities to become involved each year. This year, the following seats are up for election (taken from the Elected Officials list on the town website):

• Town Clerk (1 seat, 5 years), currently held by Jennifer Priest
• Town Moderator (1 seat, 2 years), currently held by Bill Beyer
• Select Board (1 seat, 3 years), currently held by Jim Tigges
• Assessors (1 seat, 3 years), currently held by Kevin Sheehan
• School Committee (2 seats, 3 years), currently held by Katherine Bond and Jeremy Brooks
• Library Trustees (2 seats, 3 years), currently held by Jesse Angeley and Phillip Gallagher
• Planning Board (1 seat, 5 years), currently held by Joseph Impemba
• Board of Health (1 seat, 3 years), currently held by Maribeth Welch
• Housing Authority (1 seat, 5 years), currently held by Brian Curtin
• Recreation Commission (1 seat, 3 years), currently held by Lindsay Carlson
• Shawsheen Tech School Committee (1 seat, 3 years), currently held by Kent Moffatt
• Town Meeting (6 seats per precinct, 3 years, plus a couple of extras)

Here's where you fit in. Local offices are essential for the smooth running of the town. To be involved, you've got three choices – which are not mutually exclusive: Run for office, get informed, and vote.

Is a 2026 run for you? Any Burlington registered voter can run for office, and as you can see from the list above, there are seats to match any interest – including more than 42 Town Meeting seats, which have the lowest barrier to entry and provide a great opportunity to learn more about how the town functions and collaborate to set the town's laws and budget. Town-wide seats such as Library Trustees, Assessors, and School Committee, are more specialized and often a greater time commitment but offer the opportunity to share expertise in a narrow area.

If you've been staying informed and are ready to take a seat next to the town's policymakers, you can take out your nomination papers now and run for office. Nomination papers are available at Town hall from January 2, 2026, through February 18, 2026, and must be returned by 1:00 PM on Friday, February 20.

Town-wide seats require 50 verified signatures, while Town Meeting seats, which are elected by voters in each precinct, require 10 from members of the candidate's precinct.

And if you do plan to run, start getting your campaign together yesterday. Because, as we discuss in December's episode of Burlington At Work, many voters are making their choice before the polls open on Election Day.

If this isn't your year for a run, be sure to keep up-to-date by following Burlington Buzz and BCAT throughout election season for updates on how the ballot is shaping up, as well as interviews and profiles on candidates for each office.

And, of course, don't forget to vote in the April 11, 2026, election. There are early in-person and mail-in options available, and polls will be open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.