The Overview
If you have ever wanted to run for local office in Conway without first winning over a room of party insiders, a new state law may make that easier. A bill regulating elections in the town of Conway, Massachusetts, was signed into law on September 16, 2026. Massachusetts House Bill 4498, "An Act regulating elections in the town of Conway," was signed by Gov. Maura Healey (D) on Sept. 16 and takes effect immediately. Conway residents were set to vote on a proposal that would replace the caucus system for nominating town officers with a process that lets candidates file nomination papers.
In a caucus system, a small group of party members or registered voters gathers to select nominees before an election. That process can limit who runs, since a candidate must win over a room of insiders rather than simply gathering signatures from neighbors. Nomination papers, by contrast, let any eligible resident get on the ballot by collecting a set number of voter signatures, lowering the barrier to entry for local office.
What the Law Does
Conway voters were to decide at Town Meeting on a proposal that would end caucuses for nominating town officers and let candidates file nomination papers instead, and the state Senate has enacted H 4498, a bill relating to elections in the town. The bill was filed by vote of the town, meaning Conway residents themselves approved the change before it went to the legislature. That local vote is the standard path for Massachusetts towns seeking to change their own election rules: a town meeting approves the change, then the legislature enacts it as a special act applying only to that community.
Because the law takes effect immediately upon signing, Conway's new nomination-paper process is available for the next local election cycle. Candidates who would otherwise have had to navigate a caucus can now gather signatures instead. The law amends Conway's local election rules and does not affect any other Massachusetts municipality.
Legislative Status
Rep. Natalie Blais (D) sponsored the bill, with Sen. Paul Mark (D) as cosponsor. The House passed the bill April 16, and the Senate passed it Sept. 3. Both chambers enacted it Sept. 8. The State House News Service reported the Senate's enactment of the bill on Sept. 8. Franklin County Now / Bear 95.3 reported that Conway residents were set to vote on the nomination-process change at Town Meeting. The bill moved through both chambers without recorded opposition in the coverage reviewed, consistent with the local-approval process that preceded it.
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