West Hatfield, Massachusetts Public Records

The West Hatfield Police Department (https://www.westhatfield-ma.gov/police-department) is responsible for maintaining public safety and law enforcement records within the town. These records include incident reports, arrest records, and other documentation related to police activity. Residents and authorized individuals can request access to these records through the department's records division.

West Hatfield voters are served by the Hatfield Town Clerk's Office, which functions as the local election authority. The Town Clerk's office is located at 59 Main Street, Hatfield, MA 01038 (phone: 413-247-5961, website: www.town.hatfield.ma.us). This office handles voter registration, maintains voter rolls, manages local elections, and provides information on polling locations and ballots. Massachusetts residents can register to vote online at www.registertovotema.com, which is the official state voter registration portal operated by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The voter registration deadline is 20 days before any election. Voters must provide their Massachusetts driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. In-person registration is also available at the Town Clerk's office during business hours. West Hatfield is part of the Town of Hatfield government structure, which operates under an Open Town Meeting form of government rather than mayor-council. Hatfield holds annual Town Elections typically in May for positions including Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and other local offices. The next annual town election will be in May 2026. To find polling place assignments, West Hatfield residents can use the Secretary of the Commonwealth's polling place locator at www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema or contact the Town Clerk. Hatfield typically has one or two polling locations depending on precinct divisions. Massachusetts public records law makes certain election records accessible: voter registration lists (with restrictions on use), campaign finance reports filed through the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) at www.ocpf.us, candidate nomination papers and filings maintained by local clerks and the Secretary of State, and certified election results by precinct. In the November 2024 presidential election, Hampshire County reported voter turnout of approximately 72-75% of registered voters, reflecting strong civic engagement typical of western Massachusetts college communities. The November 3, 2026 general election will be significant for West Hatfield and Hampshire County voters. Massachusetts does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026 (next Senate election is 2026 for Class II, which Massachusetts is not part of—Senator Warren's seat is up in 2024, Senator Markey's in 2026). There will be elections for Governor of Massachusetts (four-year term, last elected 2022, so 2026 is a gubernatorial election year), all nine U.S. House seats including Massachusetts 2nd District which represents Hatfield, all 160 state House seats including the representative for Hatfield's district, and a portion of the 40-member state Senate. Hampshire County elected offices on the ballot may include Register of Deeds, County Commissioners if applicable under the county government structure, and District Attorney for the Northwestern District. Hatfield may also have local questions or town officer elections. Massachusetts offers absentee/mail-in voting for any registered voter. Voters can request an absentee ballot application from the Town Clerk or download it from www.sec.state.ma.us. Completed applications must be submitted to the Town Clerk, who will mail a ballot. Voted ballots must be returned by 8:00 PM on Election Day either by mail or hand-delivered to the Town Clerk's office or the polling place. Early in-person voting is also available during a designated period before most statewide elections at locations announced by the Town Clerk.