Town Clerk

Annual Town Election to be held on May 12, 2026, 12:00pm - 7:00pm at the Town Offices.

Nomination papers may be picked up at the Town Clerks's Office Monday, Tuesday or Thursday's 9:00am - 3:00pm. Other arrangements may be made by contacting the Town Clerk at 413-624-7100 or townclerk@colrain-ma.gov.

Nomination papers are due to the Town Clerk's Office on or by 5:00pm on Tuesday 3/24/2026.

Below is a list of available postions:

Mission Statement

It is the mission of this office to be a reliable provider of information and quality services to the community and its residents, and to work cooperatively and in concert with all departments, boards and committees while complying with state and local statutes.

Town Clerk's Duties

The Town Clerk's office provides many services to the general public, as well as to local, state and federal governments, including the follow:

• Chief election official: Voter registration, absentee ballots, oversight of polling place and conduct of elections, and records of all actions of Town Meetings.
• Maintains the municipal code, the official Town bulletin board, meeting postings, oaths of office, appointments and resignations of all Town Officials.
• Licensing officer: Marriage, Birth, Death Certificates; Business Certificates, Dog Licenses, Raffle Permits.
• Certified requests for public documents.
• Compilation of Annual Census and Street / Voting lists.
• This office responds to inquiries from the public as well as from other departments, boards and committees.

Online Payments

You can order and pay for birth, death, and marriage certificates, as well as dog and kennel licenses through our Online Payment Gateway.

Annual Town Meeting and Running for Office

Running for elected positions - How do I get on the ballot?

Nomination Papers - Nomination papers will be available on February 1st. There will be a listing of all offices to appear and the terms, including any vacancies posted at the Town Offices and on the Town website. The deadline for submitting completed nomination papers to the Board of Registrars/Town Clerk will be listed above.

A total of 20 certified voter signatures are required for those running for office in Colrain. Candidates should complete their information on the nomination papers at the Town Office before collecting signatures.

Citizen’s Article - May voters place articles on the warrant?

Yes, voters may “insert” articles in the warrant. They have to do so before the Select Board “close” the warrant.

To insert an article in the warrant for an Annual Town Meeting, at least 10 registered voters of the town must sign a written request. The written request of registered voters for the insertion of subjects in town meeting warrants shall not be valid unless the required number of registered voters not only sign their names but also state their residence, with street and number, if any. Voters do not have to include their addresses after their signatures, but it is a good idea.

If you want a sample of an article to use to draft your own, go to town hall and ask for a copy of the annual report, or check if your town has a website and publishes the annual report there. The annual report will have warrants from the previous year’s Town Meeting, which you can use as samples. For further assistance, contact the town clerk or town counsel.

Citizens may insert an article in the warrant for a Special Town Meeting. The Select Board shall insert in the warrant for every Special Town Meeting all subjects which shall be requested by 100 registered voters or 10% of the total number of voters, whichever is lesser.

Registration Deadlines

Post Warrants

• Annual Town Meeting

  • 7 Days before Town Meeting
  • Articles to be placed on warrant need to be submitted prior to this date
  • For further information please contact the Select Board – Town Clerk

• Special Town Meeting

  • 14 Days before Town Meeting
  • Articles to be placed on warrant need to be submitted prior to this date

• For further information please contact the Select Board – Town Clerk

The campaign finance law requires local election officials to post locally-filed campaign finance reports on their municipal website if the report discloses activity in excess of $1,000 during a reporting period in one or more of the following categories: 1. contributions received; 2. expenditures made; 3. liabilities incurred; 4. assets acquired; or 5. assets disposed of.1 The statute requires campaign finance reports be posted within 30 days of a filing deadline. See M.G.L. c. 55, §26. Reports must remain posted on a municipal website until Dec. 31 of the sixth year following the date the statement or report was filed. See 970 CMR 1.15.

As of 2024, there are no campaigns that meet the $1,000 threshold.