Referenda and Lexington Town Meeting
Private citizens may still have "the last word" even after the close of Town Meeting. Certain actions of Town Meeting do not take effect until five days, exclusive of Sundays and holidays, after final dissolution of the meeting. During these five days, a petition for a referendum signed by not less than three percent of the registered voters may be filed with the Selectmen. If a petition contains the necessary valid signatures, the Selectmen must within 10 days set a date for a special election which must be held within 35 days. The right of referendum is limited to challenging an affirmative vote of Town Meeting.
Only certain types of Town Meeting actions are subject to a referendum:
- A vote authorizing an expenditure of $20,000 or more as a special appropriation.
- A vote establishing a new board or office, or abolishing an old board or office, or merging two or more boards or offices; a vote fixing the term of office of Town officers where such term is optional, or changing the number of members of a board.
- A vote to adopt or amend a Town by-law.
A vote of Town Meeting cannot be overturned unless a majority of the people voting in the referendum vote to do so and this majority must comprise at least 20 percent of the registered voters of the Town.