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1. WHAT IS THE ANNUAL TOWN CENSUS?

The General Laws of Massachusetts mandate an annual street listing of residents as of January 1st each year (M.G.L. Ch. 51 § 4). Therefore, the Chelmsford Town Clerk sends out census forms to all Chelmsford households at the beginning of every year. Forms are due back to our office within 10 days. The census form asks for the name, gender, date of birth and occupation of all residents in your household.

2. IS THE INFORMATION COLLECTED PUBLIC INFORMATION?

Records for residents 17 years of age or older are public information. A street list is published each year containing the names and addresses of every resident 17 years of age or older, in accordance with M.G.L. Ch. 51 § 6, and is available for $15 as a hard copy or CD.

3. WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY CENSUS FORM?

Pre-printed census forms are mailed to Chelmsford households. If the pre-printed information is correct, please sign the form and send it back to the Clerk’s Office within 10 days of receipt. If the information needs to be updated, you can add, delete or make changes on your form and mail it back to the Clerk’s Office.

4. WHAT IF I LIVE IN A MULTI-UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING?

If you live in an apartment building with more than 8 units, your landlord or management company is legally required to provide census data to our office for all residents of the building (M.G.L. Ch. 51 § 10A). Residents of large apartment buildings will receive individual census forms by mail as well.

5. WHY IS THE CENSUS IMPORTANT?

If you are a registered voter, failure to respond shall result in removal from the active voting list and may result in removal from the voter registration rolls. If you are not a registered voter, it is still important for you to return your census form – many public benefits require proof of residency, which our office can provide for any resident who has been counted in the Census. An accurate count of residents in town leads to better municipal services. Answering the census on a yearly basis helps Chelmsford maintain accurate population information for the allocation of state and federal funds, as well as grants to the Town; and assists individuals with proof of residency for numerous personal and/or legal requirements, such as:
o In-state tuition at state colleges or universities;
o Housing benefits for the elderly or other eligible persons;
o Veterans’ benefits;
o Insurance benefits; and
o School enrollment.

6. WHAT IS AN INACTIVE VOTER?

An inactive voter is a voter who failed to answer the census. Every summer, registered voters who failed to respond to either the first or second census mailing are made inactive. Voters who are made inactive are immediately sent confirmation cards, which the voter can send back to be reinstated as active or to report an address change. Voters can also be reinstated to the active voting list by either voting in an election or signing a petition or nomination paper. When inactive voters arrive at the polling place, they will be asked to show identification and will need to fill out an Affirmation of Current and Continuous Residence. After the election, they will be reinstated to the active voting list.

If a voter fails to respond to the annual census and does not vote in the next two biennial state elections, the voter will be removed from the voter registration rolls. M.G.L.Ch. 51 §37.

7. CAN I TELL WHETHER I AM REGISTERED TO VOTE FROM MY CENSUS FORM?

Pre-printed census forms mailed to residents’ homes will include an asterisk next to the names of residents who are registered voters in the column titled “Registered Voter.” If there is no asterisk next to your name on pre-printed forms, you are not registered to vote in Chelmsford.

8. DOES TURNING IN MY CENSUS FORM REGISTER ME TO VOTE?

No, it does not. You can register to vote in person at the Clerk’s Office or using a mail-in voter registration form available at the Clerk’s Office and also available online at www.sec.state.ma.us.

9. CAN I UPDATE MY NAME, PARTY OR ADDRESS WITH MY CENSUS FORM?

If you are a registered voter and you would like to update your name, party, or address, make the change on your census form and make sure that you have signed the form. If the form is signed by another member of your family, your census will be counted but we will not be able to make the change to your voter registration. If more than one person in your family would like to make a change to their voter registration, each person making a change must sign the form.

10. WHAT IF I LOST MY CENSUS FORM OR DIDN'T RECEIVE ONE?

Download and complete a blank form using the link below or you may also go to the Town Clerk's office to fill out a form in person. 2013 Annual Census Form