FIRE DISTRICT ELECTION SCHEDULE FOR 2025

The following schedule applies if your election is scheduled for December 9th.
The Board of Fire Commissioners is required to appoint a separate Board of Elections to conduct the election. The Board of Elections must include registered voters who are residents of the fire district and may not include members of the Board of Fire Commissioners or an elected Fire District Treasurer. On December 9th the Board of Elections conducts the election and the Board of Fire Commissioners waits for the election to be completed and the result to be certified by the Board of Elections.
The Board of Fire Commissioners and the Fire District Secretary must maintain records regarding each fire commissioner in office to make certain that it has an accurate listing of the terms of office so that the proper office is placed on the ballot each year and the fire commissioner whose office is expiring knows that he or she must run for re-election to remain in office.
Although this may seem like a straightforward matter, errors occur annually in fire districts across the state when the Board of Fire Commissioners and the Secretary become confused about which commissioner’s five-year term is expiring and must be placed on the ballot. If the wrong commissioner runs for reelection, they are not eligible to serve the new five-year term, resulting in a vacancy. Meanwhile, the commissioner whose term actually expired and who did not run for re-election will leave office at the start of the new year. Elected offices that are rendered vacant during the year may need to be added to the ballot. The Board of Fire Commissioner must make certain that an office which becomes vacant on October 1st or before is placed on the ballot for the December election regardless of whether a person has been appointed to fill the vacancy.
FIRE DISTRICT ELECTION SCHEDULE 2025
October 9th, 2025
Last day to adopt resolution permitting absentee ballots at the Annual Election. Absentee ballots are optional for fire districts. If previously approved, does not have to be redone.
October 24th, 2025
Request County Board of Elections to provide a list of registered voters as of November 17th and to provide the list to the district by November 18th and order voting machines or other equipment and telephone coverage for the night of the election, if desired and available.
October 30th, 2025
Last day to adopt resolutions designating Fire District Board of Elections, including Chairman and Election Inspectors and/or Ballot Clerks, fixing compensation of the individual members of the District Board of Elections
November 5th – 12th, 2025
Publish Notice of Election (and publicly post) in district newspaper stating the date, place and hours of election; listing offices and propositions, if any, on the ballot; whether candidate petitions are required; the last day for voter registration; the procedure for absentee ballots, if any, and optionally designating the date(s) on which the Inspectors of Election will meet to prepare the register, where the meeting will be held, and the hours of such meeting.
November 17th, 2025
Last day to register at County Board of Elections to be Eligible to vote on December 9th, 2025 in Annual District Election.
November 18th, 2025
County Board of Elections to mail lists of registered voters to Fire District Secretary.
November 19th, 2025
Last day to file petitions for candidates for office, if required, or notify secretary in writing of intent to run for office if petition not required.
November 20th, 2025
If absentee voting is permitted, mail absentee ballots to any registered voter whose registration record is marked “permanently disabled” on receipt of list from County Board of Elections. Ballot must be finalized to complete this task.
November 19th – November 24th , 2025
Post Notice of Election on district website and signboard, if any, at least 15, but not more than 20 days before date of election. Remains on website until December 9th, 2025.
November 19th – November 24th , 2025
Copy of Notice of Election to town clerk for posting on municipal website, if any, bulletin board and signboard, if any, at least 15, but not more than 20 days before date of election.
These notices [for websites, signboards and bulletin boards] must include time and place of election, officers to be elected, term of office and any other details regarding matters to be voted on as well as hours of polls being open for balloting. Suggest using regular Notice of Election published in district newspaper.
November 24th, 2025
Suggested meeting date for Fire District Board of Elections to prepare register. Can be any other date you choose after receiving registration books.
December 2nd, 2025
If absentee voting is permitted, last day to receive application for absentee ballot if the ballot is to be mailed
December 8th, 2025
Last day to receive application for absentee ballots if it is delivered personally to the voter or his/her agent.
December 9th, 2025
Election Day- 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. minimum may be additional consecutive hours prior to 6:00 p.m.
December 12th , 2025
File results (Canvass of Election) with Town Clerk.
December 16th, 2025
Secretary to deliver a report to the County Board of Elections indicating the persons on the list of registered voters labeled “inactive” who voted at the fire district election.