Hours: Regular business hours are 8 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday. We sometimes close for lunch 12-1 so please contact us if you are coming during this time to be sure we will be open.

A Town Clerk is the public recorder for all municipal business. In most communities a town clerk serves as “the place to call for information”. Actions from Annual and Special Town Meetings, as well as all elections held in the community, are recorded by the Town Clerk. The Clerk preserves all vital records (births, marriages and deaths) and the town seal is kept here. Municipal Meeting Notices and Agendas, Special Permits and Zoning Board Variance Decisions are filed with the Town Clerk. Information on the Town of Ware Home Rule Charter is also available on this site.

VITAL RECORDS (Certified Copies of Birth, Marriage and Death Records)

Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates are available from this office. Certified copies of the documents filed in this office are available for $10.00 per copy. Details such as the name of the individual and date of the birth, death or marriage are necessary in order to provide a record of the event, please provide your parents names on birth record requests. Certain records may be "restricted". Restricted records have limited access to the following individuals only - "those listed on the record". Only with a valid, unexpired, driver's license or state issued ID will a record be issued to you. Individuals having custody of the child through a court order must produce the court order with the court seal (no photocopies) to be left on file in the clerks office. No attorney privilege letter of request to secure the record will be accepted; without a court order, which will remain on file in the Town Clerk's Office.

Checks or money orders are to be made payable to the Town of Ware. A self-addressed, postage paid envelope must be included with the request. Mailing address is:

Ware, MA  01082

GENEALOGY (Ancestry Research of Records)
It is not unusual to research records of families dating back several hundreds of years in cities and towns across the country. Records dating back to the 1770's are available in the Town of Ware. 
In an effort to better serve you it is helpful to have as much information as possible on each family member you may be researching (name, date of birth, marriage or death - or an approximate time period). We are available during normal business hours but may ask you to provide an email with basic information or when you come in person to allow us to do this at a later time as we may have other tasks to perform that are a priority). We do often research for the family and there is an hourly charge. Please contact us at the above telephone number to insure that we are available to help you and to make the necessary arrangements for researching your requests.

Voter registration can be completed in person, online at www.ma.gov  - Secretary of the Commonwealth - Elections and Voting, or by mail. Mail-in registration forms are available at the Town Clerk’s office or the US Post Office. Voter registration deadlines are as follows: an individual, qualified to register to vote, must register to vote and/or change their party affiliation 10 days prior to any State Primary, State Election or Annual or Special Town Meeting. 

The last date to register to vote to participate in the Special or Annual Town Meeting is Friday April 28th.

Residents please feel free to check your voter registration status online at www.ma.gov  - Secretary of State/Elections & Voting at any time. You may check your party status, where voting will take place as well as a sample of any State Primary/Election Ballot.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS  are available also for those persons who will not be present the day of any State or Town Election. Applications for an Absentee Ballot are available on the above mentioned website, or the voter may also apply in person and complete an application available at the Office of the Town Clerk, or by simply writing a letter/note to the Town Clerk 126 Main St. Ware, MA 01082. The information to be included in the letter is: Name of the Voter, Address where registered as a voter, and the place where the ballot is to be sent. The letter must have the signature of the voter. The qualifications to apply for an Absentee Ballot are as follows: 1. A registered voter who will be unable to vote in person on Election Day due to absence from the Town of Ware during normal polling hours, a disability that prevents them from coming to vote in person or due to religious belief. 

VOTE BY MAIL: There is no Vote by Mail for the Annual Town Election of April 10, 2023

EARLY VOTING IN PERSON: There is no Early Voting for the Annual Town Election of April 10, 2023.