The Town Clerk's Office will be open on Wednesday, November 22 until 5PM for the receipt of petition signatures. All other town offices will close at 4:30PM.
Please note that at this time no Notary Services are available for the public.
Wenham Town Clerk Online Services
For their convenience, residents are encouraged to utilize online services 24/7 via our payment portal or by email. On this site, dog licenses, birth/marriage/death certificates, and Pleasant Pond Parking Passes may be requested and paid for online with a credit card or bank transfer. We will then mail them to you. Please note: For dog licenses, you'll need an updated rabies certificate from your vet if the previous one is expired. Seniors age 70+ get free dog licenses, but they still must submit the application and rabies certificate for a dog tag. For Pleasant Pond parking passes, you'll need current Hamilton or Wenham registrations for your car. See below for details.
HOT TOPICS
Seeking Election Officers for 2024
2024 is a big year for elections with a Presidential Primary on March 5, Town Meeting on April 6, All Town Election on April 11, a State Primary in the Fall (date pending), and the Presidential General Election on November 5. Please consider becoming an Election Officer to help on election day or during Early Voting periods. Volunteer, paid, and Senior Tax Write Off hours are available for US citizens ages 16+.
Apply to be a Wenham Election Officer here!
Justice of the Peace
Our Town Clerk is now a Justice of the Peace able to legally conduct weddings anywhere in Massachusetts! Fees are $100 within Wenham and $150 outside of Wenham. Contact Town Clerk Kirsten Alexander for details. JP services will be unavailable November 28-December 20.
Dog Licenses
Look for your 2024 Dog License application on the back of your household census form, arriving in your mailbox in late December/early January. Please return both by February 1st!
Wenham loves its dogs, but they do need a current license and quite a few do not have them! Please check to see if your pup(s) have 2023 tags. You can complete the application and pay online here or complete this fillable form and return to the Wenham Town Clerk ASAP with a check or cash. The fee is $15 for neutered dogs and $20 for intact dogs. If you are age 70 or older, there is no fee to register up to three dog(s), however you DO NEED A DOG TAG! If your dog has passed away, please let us know at townclerk@wenhamma.gov so we can update the database.
Having current dog tags isn't just the law, it protects all our dogs--if they get loose (like mine does from time to time!), they can be identified by the Animal Control Officer and we can be sure they are up to date with rabies vaccinations.
Update Your Voter Registration
2024 is a big election year! Don't wait to register or update your voter registration if you have moved, changed your name, or wish to change your party affiliation. It's simple to check your current voter registration status and make changes online through the MA Elections Division at http://www.registertovotema.com/ . Updating your voter registration online or at the DMV will also update your Annual Census status and you will no longer be listed as inactive. You'll receive a letter from the Town Clerk acknowledging any changes to your voter registration status.
If you want to request a 2024 Vote by Mail or Absentee ballot, please do so starting January 1, 2024.
Elections & Voting
Massachusetts has a centralized voter database across all cities and towns. Changes to your driver's license will be reflected in your voter registration as well. In January, please promptly respond to Wenham's annual census so that you aren't listed as an inactive voter and let the Clerk's office know if you move in or out of Wenham. The Massachusetts Elections Division/Secretary of State has a web site where you can check and update your status in the central database:
Check your voter registration status
Register to vote online
Change your name, address, or party affiliation
Apply for a Vote by Mail ballot (no reason required- must re-apply each calendar year)
Apply for an Absentee ballot (specific reasons required--re-apply each calendar year or for specific elections)
Notary Services - We regret that Notary Services are Not Currently Available to the Public
DPW Receipts
DPW Receipts: If the Clerk’s window is closed, please see Sheila Bouvier on the 2nd floor for DPW receipts (mattresses, metal, etc. to be dropped at Iron Rail.). See here for pricing. If the item you are trying to recycle is not on the list, contact Sheila at 978-468-5520 x6. Mattresses are free for Wenham residents but do require a receipt from the Town Clerk. Drop off for paid item is the first Saturday of the month from 8-12 at 91 Grapevine Rd. Mattresses with receipts may be dropped off on Tuesday/Wednesday from 8-2 at 91 Grapevine Rd. Please bring an ID with your Wenham address on it when you pick up your receipt. We are only able to take checks and cash at this time.
Pleasant Pond Parking Passes
Thank you for a great 2023 Pleasant Pond season! We hope you enjoyed it! Stay tuned for 2024 Pleasant Pond Parking Passes and opportunities to purchase online. We will mail your passes for your convenience.
About the Office of the Town Clerk
Often considered the gateway to local government and the community, the Office of the Town Clerk serves as the central information point for residents and visitors alike. 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.
The Town Clerk's office welcomes inquiries seeking assistance/information in relation to services provided by the Town. We will assist in redirecting any question to the appropriate department. The staff and phone extension list is available here.
Many transactions can be completed online (with credit card or echeck) or by mail. In person payments must be made by cash or check.
On City Hall Systems (https://epay.cityhallsystems.com/ you can order and pay by credit card for:
- Dog licenses (free for seniors!)
- Official copies of existing vital records (birth, death, and marriage certificates)
- Pleasant Pond Beach Parking Passes (Hamilton and Wenham residents, senior discount!)
In person, residents can pay by check or cash to do all of the above plus:
- Obtain a receipt for materials to dispose of at the DPW at the Iron Rail (91 Grapevine Road)
- Take out marital intentions to get a marriage license (appointments preferred)
- File a Business certificate (DBA)
- Register a new to Wenham dog
- Take out papers to run for office and get sworn in once appointed or elected
- Voter registration (done automatically when you change your address with the Registry of Moter Vehicles)
- New resident information, advice, and census form
- Raffle Permits
- Buy a copy of the Annual Street List book
- Public records requests
- Wenham history or genealogy queries
Duties of the Town Clerk
The Town Clerk is the Chief Election Official. The Clerk supervises voter registration, oversees polling places, election officers, and the general conduct of all elections. The Clerk directs the preparation of ballots, polling places, voting equipment, voting lists, administers campaign finance laws, certifies nomination papers and initiative petitions, and serves on the Board of Registrars. The Clerk's office conducts the annual town census and prepares the street list of residents.
The Wenham Town Clerk is elected for a three (3) year term. At the 2024 Annual Town Election, voters will decide whether to stay with an elected Town Clerk (who must be a Wenham resident) or move to an appointed one.
