The candidates have been campaigning for weeks. They've discussed the issues, their qualifications, and told you why you should give them your vote. The only thing left to do is cast the ballots!

Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3, for the annual town election.

Wondering where to vote? Take note! There are a few changes in the polling places. Precinct 1 voters will cast ballots at Town Hall; Precinct 2 vote at the Ethel E. Hammond Elementary School; Precinct 3 residents vote at Minot Forest Elementary; Precincts 4 and 5 voters cast ballots at the John W. Decas Elementary School; Precinct 6 residents vote at the Wareham Lodge of Elks.

On the ballot will be one three-year term on the Board of Selectmen, a two-year Board of Selectmen term for the seat vacated by Michael Schneider, who has resigned, two three-year terms on the Board of Assessors, a one-year term on the Assessors, two three-year seats on the School Committee, a three-year Deputy Moderator term, and one five-year Housing Authority seat.

Schneider resigned after his seat could easily be added to the April 3 ballot due to deadline requirements. The Board of Selectmen has requested that Governor Deval Patrick solicit legislation to allow the vacant seat to be added to the ballot.

The legislation has not yet been filed, but according to an aide in State Representative Susan Williams Gifford's office, it is "standard operating procedure" for the governor's office "not to file the legislation until right after the election has taken place."

Here is a recap of all of the races. Want to know more? Click here for our longer profiles on the Board of Selectmen and School Committee candidates!

Board of Selectmen

Three-year seat

The election has three Board of Selectmen candidates vying for one three-year seat, vacated by Selectmen Chair Walter Cruz, who did not seek re-election. Former Selectman Bruce Sauvageau of Swifts Beach Road, active volunteer Alan Slavin of Oak Street, and Board of Assessors member David A. Smith of Pinehurst Drive have thrown their hats into the ring for the position.

Bruce Sauvageau says that the Board of Selectmen needs more experience in order to be more effective, and he would like to bring that experience to the board. He spent 7 years on the Board of Selectmen and was defeated in his re-election bid in 2010, coming second to last in a five-way race.

The former-Selectman said the town's biggest problem is money -- or lack thereof. He wants to promote new commercial growth through projects like the proposed Westfield senior housing project, which when completed will provide affordable senior housing on the 77-acre Westfield property in West Wareham. He also said he wants to bring the commuter rail to Wareham.

David Smith says he would like to solve what he sees as a lack of trust between the people of Wareham and the Board of Selectmen. He said he wants to facilitate dialogue, having the public contact him to tell them what they would like to see him work for in the town.

Smith currently serves on the Board of Assessors and would have to resign from that board if elected to the Selectmen.

Alan Slavin, who has volunteered on many town committees including the Capital Planning Committee, said he wants to work to increase economic development and make Wareham an attractive place to do business. That, he says, is the solution to Wareham's budgetary problems.

Slavin said he wants to tap into the pool of talented people living and working in Wareham, create an "Economic Advisory Council," and determine ways to increase growth. He also said he wants to get the community more involved with the Board of Selectmen and the Selectmen more involved with the community to facilitate trust and confidence in town government.

Two-year seat

Amit Johar of Cranberry Highway and Peter Teitelbaum of Oak Street are running for the possible two-year Selectmen seat. For names will appear on the ballot, however. Mary Jane Driscoll and Patrick Tropeano dropped out of the race, but did so too late for there names to be removed from the ballot.

Political newcomer Amit Johar said he wants to bring the mindset of the business world to Wareham's town government. Citing the fact that his family owns two liquor stores in Wareham, he says he wants to create a "business plan" for the town. He says he is against increased taxes and wants to work to trim the town's budget and make it more efficient.

Johar has been criticized throughout his campaign by some who allege he does not live in Wareham. He maintains that he resides at the address above his family's store, Mayflower Liquors, on Cranberry Highway. (See page 6).

Lifelong resident Peter Teitelbaum says he believes he can be a "bridge" between members of the Board of Selectmen with different viewpoints and wants to work on the "divides" in town by treating everyone respectfully. He said his experience as a lawyer will be invaluable as a Selectman, as he works daily to find solutions to all kinds of problems.

School Committee

The School Committee race features three candidates vying for two seats. Incumbent Geoff Swett is seeking re-election, while Lynne Burroughs and Michael Flaherty are looking to bring their expertise to the committee.

Lynne Burroughs says she sees budget problems and low enrollment among the many challenges for Wareham Public Schools. Burroughs, who has twice run unsuccessfully for the School Committee, said that school officials need to work to increase enrollment and help kids graduate, and should be looking to add more arts, more creative programs, more after-school programs and sports.

Michael Flaherty says his priorities if elected are finding ways to lower the teacher-to-student ratio, helping his fellow parents better understand the workings of the school district, and working to highlight what he says is among the best things the schools have going: the sports program.

Incumbent Geoff Swett, who is completing his second School Committee term, wants to complete the work he's done in helping to revamp the Wareham Public Schools teachers' evaluation process. With the process, the district is finding who its great teachers are, who needs help, and is overall working to provide more support for teachers. This, he says, will make a big difference in enrollment and standardized test scores in years to come.

Board of Assessors

Three-year seat

Robert Bunstein of Bayberry Road, incumbent Steven Curry of Rosepoint Avenue, and former assessor and former Town Moderator John Donahue of Datewood Street are running for the three-year Board of Assessors seat.

Robert Bunstein, who previously worked as a part-time data collector in the Wareham Assessors' department, said that experience, and his experience working as a structural engineer, will be an asset to the Board of Assessors.

"I know all the people on the board quite well," he said. "I just felt that I might be able to contribute something if I jointed the board myself."

Incumbent Steven Curry has worked as a real estate appraiser for 27 years and has spent 17 years on the Board of Assessors. He is passionate about fair property valuations and keeping private information safe.

"I want to keep going forward, to make sure that [property] valuations are fair and equitable," said Curry, adding that he will "ensure the protection of the taxpayers' private information provided to the Board of Assessors."

John Donahue spent 17 years on the Board of Assessors in Wareham and currently serves as Principal Assessor in West Bridgewater.

Donahue says he wants to "raise the level of professionalism and bring stability to the Board of Assessors." He added: "I believe that each and every taxpayer has the right to a fair assessment and to an open and transparent assessment process."

One-year seat

Brenda Eckstrom is running uncontested for the one-year Assessors seat. Eckstrom, who spent six years on the Board of Selectmen, said she wants to serve the town.

"I come to you as a humble public servant," she told the crowd at the recent Suffolk University/Move Wareham Forward community forum. "I don't have any experience with the Board of Assessors, with assessing, with appraising ... but I know how to do research and I know how to work hard and that's what I will offer for one year."

Housing Authority

Incumbent Martin Benoit of Sandwich Road and Robert Powilatis of Cory Drive are vying for one five-year seat on the Housing Authority, which oversees subsidized housing for elderly and handicapped residents at Agawam Village and Redwood Park.

Martin Benoit, who worked in housing maintenance for most of his life including as a property manager for Bourne Oaks in Bourne, has been on the Housing Authority for 11 years and lives in Agawam Village. He said he wants to "improve our properties and keep providing housing for senior citizens."

Robert Powilatis worked as a state auditor and previously served on the Board of Selectmen and Housing Authority in Holbrook.

"I think I would be able to provide some leadership to the board ... and be more aggressive in solving the needs of the people in Wareham," he said.

A previous version of this story read that Robert Powilatis worked for Bourne Oaks. Martin Benoit was the property manager for Bourne Oaks. Wareham Week apologizes for this error.

Deputy Moderator

Current Deputy Moderator Joseph Ashley, who was elected for a one-year term last year, is running uncontested for the three-year position.

Have election or ballot questions? Call the call the Town Clerk's office at 508-291-3140.