Town Meeting / Voting Information

Greenland is a Town Meeting town, which means that the citizens come to Town and School Meetings where the budgets and warrant articles are discussed and voted on, as well as another day set aside to elect officers and amend zoning ordinances. Each of these events constitutes Town Meeting.

Elections/Zoning Amendments: The 2nd Tuesday in March is always the date set aside for voting for municipal officers and any zoning amendments. Voting takes place in the polling booths that are setup in the Central School's general-purpose room. Hours of operation are from 8am to 7pm. The meeting is then recessed to the following Saturday at the Central School for the remainder of the warrant.

Residents may register to vote on this day, but require proof of residence and a valid picture ID.

Town and School Meeting: For Town Meeting, Selectmen, Budget Committee members and the Town Moderator present the warrant articles. For School Meeting, School Board members, Budget Committee members and the School Moderator present the warrant articles. Each warrant article is presented one at a time. Residents have an opportunity to discuss the article, once it is moved and seconded. The article can also be amended as to an amount of money or other aspect of the article as long as the primary purpose is not changed. Residents then will vote on the article, and depending on the article, require a simply majority (greater than 50%) or two-thirds majority (greater than or equal to 66.66%) to pass the article. Articles can be voted on using a simple hand-count (using the card received during registration) or a secret ballot which has voters selecting an option on a ballot card and placing it in a ballot box. The warrant must be available 14 days prior to the start of Town Meeting (voting day) to notify residents of what will be discussed. The purpose of an article may not be changed because residents would not have been "warned" of that action.

Residents are not permitted to register on these days. Voters need to check in on arrival to Town and School Meeting to ensure they receive a voting card that allows them to be counted during a hand-count vote, or to receive a ballot card for a secret ballot vote. The Moderator is in charge of Town Meeting procedures.

The School Meeting is sometimes scheduled for a Thursday evening or a Saturday morning, depending on how many (or the type of) articles that are to be voted on.