When you think about voting, the first thing that probably comes to mind is that iconic “I Voted” sticker. But behind that small badge of civic pride is an incredible amount of work — especially in a small town like Wayland. “Meet Our Neighbors” host Ashley Fuller sat down with Trudy Reid, Wayland’s first appointed Town Clerk, to find out what really goes into making elections — and so much more — run smoothly.
From Dog Tags to Democracy
While many residents know the Town Clerk’s office as the place to license their dogs or pick up a marriage certificate, Trudy Reid’s role goes far beyond that. Reid is the town’s chief election official, vital records keeper and an essential part of the town’s democratic process.
Reid’s office manages birth and death certificates dating back to the 1600s, oversees the annual town census, handles voter registration, and — yes — makes sure those cherished stickers are ready on election day. Plus, she’s responsible for helping residents with everything from registering a dog to finding the right office to pay their tax bill.
Keeping Voters Active (and Not Deleted!)
One important tip from Reid: always complete and return your annual town census form. It’s not just paperwork — it keeps your voter registration active. If you skip it for too long, you could become inactive or even be deleted from the voter rolls.
Thankfully, fixing an inactive status is easy (you just show up and confirm your address), but being deleted requires starting the registration process from scratch. As Reid likes to remind residents: “Don’t get deleted!”
The Heavy Lifting of Elections
Voting might seem seamless to residents, but there’s a mountain of behind-the-scenes work. Every single vote-by-mail ballot requires multiple steps: logging the application, mailing the ballot, recording its return and updating voter history after election day.
For the March 2024 Presidential Primary alone, Reid and the assistant town clerk Terry Mansfield processed — by hand — over 2,000 vote-by-mail ballots. Each ballot was carefully handled, personally delivered to the post office and tracked every step of the way to ensure the integrity of the election.
Even with today’s technology, Wayland’s elections maintain old-school backups like paper voter lists, ensuring that no power outage or equipment failure can stop democracy. If an emergency evacuation occurs at a polling location, a detailed plan ensures that ballots are safely handled and that voting continues without disruption.
Big Changes in 2024
This past year has been a particularly busy one for the Town Clerk’s office. Since February 2024, Reid and her team have:
Successfully administered three elections, including a presidential election and two annual town elections.
Registered nearly 1,500 dogs for 2025.
Launched a trial consolidation of voting precincts, combining all four precincts into one voting location at the Town Building — a major effort supported by the Select Board, Town Manager, the DPW, Police and Fire Departments, and the School Superintendent’s Office.
Purchased new voting booths and stanchions to improve the voter experience at the polls.
Secured a Community Preservation Committee (CPC) grant to preserve vital town records, including birth, marriage, and death records over 50 years old.
Began working with General Code to update and re-codify the town’s bylaws to meet updated state standards.
All of these projects were made possible through careful planning, collaboration across town departments and a lot of caffeine.
What Keeps Trudy Reid Going?
Coffee (with sugar and extra cream), chocolate and a genuine passion for public service. “When a resident steps up to the counter, it’s all about them,” Reid says. Her commitment to making sure every citizen is heard — whether they’re licensing a dog, asking for directions, or casting a ballot — is the heart of her work.
And in case you’re wondering: no, you don’t need to register your cat. (Although, Reid jokes, if you feel strongly about it, you can always start a petition to change the law!)
Final Thoughts
Wayland is lucky to have someone like Trudy Reid at the helm — someone who treats every vote, every record and every resident with the utmost care and attention.
Behind every sticker, behind every smooth election day and behind every preserved historical document, there’s a team of hardworking people making it all happen.
If you’re looking to get involved, whether by volunteering on election day, updating your voter registration, or simply dropping off your annual census form, the Town Clerk’s office is ready to help — with a smile (and maybe a little chocolate).
