Melrose Elections Will Look Much Different This Year
MELROSE, MA — Voting later this year will look much different than voting earlier this year. The Board of Registrars of Voters met virtually Tuesday afternoon to discuss just how different it will be and what measures will be taken to ensure safety.
Nothing is set in stone, but the Board is operating under the parameters of a plan proposed last week by state election officials. Secretary of State William Galvin's proposal would see a dramatic expansion of mail-in voting and add almost two weeks of early voting between September and November elections.
Many health experts are predicting a coronavirus surge in the fall. Even if there isn't a surge, a vaccine likely won't be available until at least next year, meaning social distancing will be with us for the Sept. 1 state primary and Nov. 3 state and presidential general elections.
"We don't know exactly what the landscape is going to look like but we know we're going to have to make changes," City Clerk Amy Kamosa said.
Under Galvin's proposal, mail-in voting would be available for anyone in Massachusetts who requests it without having to offer a reason. That massive undertaking could be very popular as people look to cast ballots while maintaining social distance — the city has already received a lot of requests for applications.
"I think people know they'd rather be safe," city Election Administrator Joanne Perperian said. "Vote from home and mail it in."
Early voting would be significantly expanded for both elections. The September primary, which currently doesn't have early voting, would get seven days' worth. The November general, which currently gets up to 12 days, would get 18 days' worth.
"I want to make sure that any voter who wants to cast their ballot by mail is able to do so this fall, but it is also essential that we preserve in person voting as an option for those who need it," Galvin said in a release. "The best way to do that is to spread it out over as many days as possible, to avoid crowding in the polling places."
Early voting in Melrose usually takes place at the slightly cramped City Council Chambers in City Hall. Perperian raised the possibility of moving early voting — all potentially 25 days of it — to Memorial Hall.
Election Day itself could also be moved to a centralized location, such as the gym at the high school/middle school campus. Eliminating the ward locations might be a necessity — some poll workers have already indicated they won't be willing to risk exposure.
"We're in a bit of uncharted territory," Eric Wildman said during Tuesday's meeting.
The changes won't come cheap. Coordinating a massive increase in mail-in ballots, providing proper social distancing at polling places, buying electronic "poll pads" to help streamline the process and supplying poll workers with personal protective equipment all come with a price tag. Kamosa said the city could use some of this fiscal year's free cash could be used for some of the purchases.
"We're talking double the cost of the election, maybe," Kamosa said. "I don't know."
This article originally appeared on the Melrose Patch
