Editorial Board Interviews

Nashua's 2011 municipal election will be held on Tuesday, November 8, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Seats on the ballot include the mayor, 10 aldermen, two Board of Education members (one a short-term seat decided on a separate ballot for a special election), three members of the Fire Commission, and two members of the Board of Public Works. Each ward will also elect a moderator, clerk and selectman - positions that help run elections.

The mayor is the chief executive officer of the city, serving a four-year term. The 15-person board of alderman writes laws and sets policy. Six aldermen are "at-large," meaning they represent the whole city, and serve four-year terms; Three of these seats are up for election this year. Nine alderman serve one of the city wards each, and serve two-year terms. All of them are up for election.

The Board of Education sets the budget for the school district, which must be approved by the mayor and aldermen, and oversees the district's operation. The nine members serve four years each. Five seats are up for election.

The five-member Board of Fire Commission oversees the fire department, including budgets and buildings, serving four-year terms. The four-member Board of Public Works oversees the city's work and ownership of such things as roads, sewers, utility poles, gas lines andlandscaping, serving four-year terms.

There are nine pollings places, one in each ward. For details, check this page.

Absentee ballots:

You can get an absentee ballot online here or in person at the City Clerk's office in the back of City Hall. Absentee ballots can be mailed in, as long as they're received by 5 p.m. on election day, or given by hand at the clerk's ofice. Note that ballots can only be dropped off in person by the voter, not by another person, including a spouse or family member.