April 14, 2026 By Carol Britton Meyer
In addition to nearly a dozen candidates running for office uncontested, there is one race for voters to consider at the May 2 town election and also a ballot question related to the proposed Center for Active Living. Only registered voters may participate. The last day to register to vote is April 17.
Philip DeCola is challenging incumbent Gary Tondorf-Dick for his five-year seat on the planning board.
Voting in person on Election Day, May 2, will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (note new hours) at the following locations:
Precincts 1-4, Hingham High School, 17 Middle St.
Precincts 5-7, Hingham Middle School, 1103 Main St.
Precinct 7A, Willard Square, Linden Ponds, 201 Linden Ponds Way
Reach out to townclerk@hingham-ma.gov or call (781) 741-1410 with questions.
The ballot will include both elected positions and a question.
Elected positions:
- Moderator – Vote for One – Michael J. Puzo
- Select Board – Vote for One – William C. Ramsey
- Board of Assessors – Vote for One – Randall M. Winters
- Board of Health – Vote for One – Elizabeth A. Eldredge
- HMLP Board – Vote for One – Joseph M. Fisher
- School Committee – Vote for Two – Jennifer A. Benham and Nina Theresa Villanova
- Planning Board- Vote for One – Gary Stephen Tondorf-Dick or Philip DeCola
- Sewer Commission – Vote for One – Richard F. Eisen
- Recreation – Vote for One – Matthew LeBretton
Question:
Shall the Town of Hingham be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to pay the costs of professional fees, constructing, equipping and furnishing a new Center for Active Living located off Bare Cove Park Drive, Hingham, MA?
Yes ____ No ____
Both the related town meeting warrant article (April 27 and possibly April 28) and ballot question must pass for the new $25.8 million CAL to be built. The debt exclusion question will appear on the ballot regardless of the town meeting vote because it is printed well ahead of time.
However, the result wouldn’t matter if the article does not pass at town meeting.
A debt exclusion results in a usually long-term but temporary property tax increase to pay for a specific capital project, while a Proposition 2-1/2 override funds essential services and ongoing costs that cannot be covered within the cap and results in a permanent increase in the tax base.
To view a sample ballot, go to https://www.hingham-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/27568/2026-Town-Election-Ballot.
The last day to register to vote is Friday, April 17 – for both the town meeting and town election. “If folks want to weigh in on town meeting issues, they must attend the meeting in person,” Town Clerk Carol Falvey told the Hingham Anchor. “Remote participation is not an option.”
Register in person at the town clerk’s office or online at www.voteinma.com by April 17.
Vote by mail is an option to in-person voting. Applications can be found on the Secretary of the Commonwealth website: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/languages/vote-by-mail-applications.htm.
“The last day to apply for a mail-in ballot is Monday, April 27, but since that is the first day of town meeting, we hope folks will make every effort to submit their applications prior to April 24,” Falvey said.
The last day to apply for an in-person absentee ballot is Friday, May 1, at noon. “Please remember, this option is only available to those who will be out of town on Saturday, May 2, have a religious belief that prevents them from voting on election day, or have a disability that keeps them from voting at their polling location,” Falvey explained.
For further information, visit https://www.hingham-ma.gov/428/Election-Voter-Information.