Thursday, December 10, 2026, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Pamela & Stephen Meister’s Home – 19 Village Lane, Arlington
Appetizers and drinks will be served at 6:00 PM.
Main course will start at 6:30 PM.
Our featured guest speaker this year will be Claire Ricker, Arlington Director of Planning and Community Development. In this position that she has held since September 2022, Claire oversees the planning, zoning, housing, economic development, and historic preservation functions of the town. Prior to this, Claire did planning work for the Cities of Lowell, Holyoke and Cambridge, and was Director of Real Estate for a non-profit organization in Lowell – Coalition for a Better Acre.
Claire’s background includes urban design, community planning, affordable housing development, real estate development, capital planning and project management, and disposition of public property. She has successfully led and implemented multiple projects and initiatives that have improved the quality of life, sustainability, and affordability of the town, such as the Arlington Heights Action Plan, the Solarize Mass Plus Program, and the Housing Production Plan. Claire is also an American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certified planner and a licensed electrical journeyman with expertise in solar energy and renewable energy. (Source: Claire V. Ricker, AICP | LinkedIn)
LWVA members, friends and family are most welcome to come and hear Claire speak about her planning priorities for Arlington, and to provide comments and ask questions. Please contact Meredith Zona if you are able to attend, and to tell her what type of food you’ll bring. Meredith can also arrange for a ride to and from the event if you need that.
Directions: Village Lane is a small loop street in East Arlington, on the Belmont side of Route 2 off Lake Street. From the Heights, take Park Avenue across Route 2. Turn left onto the access road (it becomes Lake Street), cross Pleasant Street, and turn left onto Village Lane. From the Center, take Pleasant Street toward Belmont, cross Route 2 and turn left onto Lake Street. Village Lane is on your left. From East Arlington, take Lake Street into Belmont. Village Lane will be on your right shortly after the on-ramp to Route 2. There is limited parking on Village Lane. You can also park on Cross Street or Albert Avenue on the Belmont side of Lake Street.
In this issue of the League of Women Voters of Arlington Bulletin:
- November/December 2026 Calendar
- Registration of Students at Arlington High School
- Co-President’s Message
- You’re Invited to LWVA’s Annual Holiday Party!
- Celebrate 20 Years of YourArlington!
- League of Women Voters, Campaign Legal Center Secure Permanent Victory Restoring Voter Registration at Naturalization Ceremonies
- Membership Dues Information
Election Day voting: Arlington polls will be open from 7AM to 8PM on Tuesday, November 3 for the 2026 General Election. To find your polling place and view your ballot, visit the Secretary of Massachusetts website here.
Early Voting for the General Election will be conducted in the Clerk’s Office on the 2nd floor of Town Hall during specific hours from Saturday, October 17 through Friday, October 30. For more info, visit Arlington’s Elections & Voting page here.
Saturdays: 10/17 and 10/24 – 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sundays: 10/18 and 10/25 – 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Mondays: 10/19 and 10/26 – 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesdays: 10/20 and 10/27 – 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesdays: 10/21 and 10/28 – 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursdays: 10/22 and 10/29, 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Fridays: 10/23 and 10/30, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Vote by mail applications have been mailed to registered Massachusetts voters. Mail-in ballot applications must reach the Town Clerk’s office by 5PM on Tuesday, October 27 for the General Election. Completed ballots may be returned by:
- Mailing your ballot using the envelope provided. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before November 3 and arrive by November 8.
- Hand-delivering your ballot to the Clerk’s Office in Town Hall any time before the polls close on Election Day.
- Using a Ballot Drop Box (located at 730 Mass Ave – in front of Town Hall, 85 Park Ave – ACMi Studio, or 175 Mass Ave – Fox Library) before the polls close on Election Day.
- Ballots cannot be dropped off at a polling place on Election Day.
Voter Registration Deadline for the General Election: Saturday, October 24.
In this issue of the League of Women Voters of Arlington Bulletin:
- October 2026 Calendar
- Registration of Students at Arlington High School
- Co-President’s Message
- League Informs Voters on Town Day, September 19
- US Supreme Court Blocks Postal Service from Restricting Mail Ballots
- 2026 Ballot Question Guidance for Local Leagues
- LWVMA Provides Info on Ballot Questions
- Membership Dues Information
The following nine measures will appear on the November 3rd Massachusetts ballot. Find out more about the ballot questions in the Voter Guide on the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website here.
Question 1: Expanding the Public Records Law
This proposed law would make most records held by the Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the Massachusetts Public Records Law.
Question 2: Collective Bargaining for CPCS Employees
This proposed law would specify that employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services are permitted to engage in collective bargaining with their employer.
Question 3: State Primary Elections
This proposed law would eliminate political party primaries for state elections and instead establish a system where there would be a single, all-party primary in which all candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, would be listed on one ballot, and voters could vote for any candidate on the ballot. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary would advance to the general election ballot.
Question 4: Election Day Registration
This proposed law would permit eligible individuals to register to vote or update their voter registration address on Election Day.
Question 5: State Revenue Limit & Rebate
This proposed law would change the limit on how much revenue the state can collect in a given year. If revenues exceed that limit, the law triggers a refund to taxpayers.
Question 6: Natural Resource Conservation Fund
This proposed law would establish a Nature for All Fund that, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, would receive 50% of state taxes collected from the sale and use of sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses for the first year of its operation.
Question 7: Zoning of Single Family Homes
This proposed law would allow single-family homes to be built in a residentially zoned area as long as the land on which it is to be constructed is at least 5,000 square feet, has at least 50 feet of land bordering the street, road, or public way that it faces, and has access to public sewer and water services.
Question 8: Prohibit Retail Sale of Adult Recreational Use Marijuana
The proposed law would change the type and amount of marijuana that may legally be possessed in Massachusetts by repealing the laws that legalize, regulate, and tax the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana in Massachusetts.
Question 9: Firearms Regulation (Vote YES to uphold the current law)
This is a veto referendum to repeal An Act Modernizing Firearms Laws.
Read a Letter to the Editor from LWVA Co-Presidents on Questions 4 and 9 to YourArlington here.
Find out more about the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts positions on the ballot questions here.
LWVMA SUPPORTS
Question 1: Expanding the Public Records Law
Question 4: Election Day Registration
Question 7: Single Family Homes
Question 9: Firearms Regulation: Vote YES to uphold the current firearms law
LWVMA OPPOSES
Question 5: State Revenue Limit & Rebate
LWVMA TAKES NO POSITION ON
Question 2: Collective Bargaining for CPCS Employees
Question 3: State Primary Elections
Question 6: Natural Resource Conservation Fund
Question 8: Prohibit Retail Sale of Adult Recreational Use Marijuana