Election Commission

City of Lowell Election Commission | Census Office City Hall • 375 Merrimack Street, Room 5 • Lowell, MA 01852 Tel: 978.674.4046  Fax: 978.970.4089 www.lowellma.gov Zoe Dzineku Beverly Athens James A. Pope Mark Paton Commissioners Board of Election Commissioners Meeting Tuesday, July 13, 2021 Election and Census Conference Room Meeting Minutes 1. Roll Call and Attendance: Start time 5:35 PM Meeting called to order by Chair Zoe Dzineku. All commissioners present. 2. Old Business a. Vote to accept minutes from prior meeting. Motion by Commissioner Beverly Anthes seconded by Vice Chair Jim Pope to accept minutes of June 29, 2021, meeting. All in favor. 3. New Business A. Discussion of proposal of Commissioner Jim Pope for polling locations for 2021 municipal elections, consisting of the following: I. Open as many polling locations in each district as necessary and provide each polling location with a duplicate set of voter check-in books. II. Inform candidates to have poll watchers at all polling locations in the city be alert for people they know are voting in an illegal manner or illogical location (e.g., a long way from where they live). III. Inform candidates of the illegal ramifications of having their supporters vote twice or encouraging voters to do so. IV. Instruct poll workers watch for a significant number of people voting in an illegal manner or illogical location. V. In the event a voter casts ballots in multiple locations on Election Day, have poll workers or watchers call the Election Office. Upon receipt of call, two Election Commissioners would be dispatched, one to each of the polling locations in the district. VI. Upon arrival, each commissioner, via mobile phone, would audit the voter lists to see if voter casted double, triple, or multiple ballots. In the event of illegal voting, the commissioner would remain at the polling location or instruct poll workers and check on future voters who are voting “illogically.”  VII. After the polls close and upon suspicion of a problem, the Election Commission would audit the voter list in questionable districts, with it only mattering if the number of fraudulent votes exceeded the winning (or losing) margin of any candidate. Chairwoman Dzineku recognized Vice Chair Pope, who explained his the basis of his proposal. Interim Director Veloso informed the commissioners that the Secretary of State’s office had expressed serious concerns regarding Mr. Pope’s proposal and believed that it was problematic. City Solicitor O’Connor reiterated the Secretary of State’s concerns, noting that the SEC raised concerns regarding voters being able to vote twice. Solicitor O’Connor also raised concerns about ensuring integrity of the voting process to make sure another election would not be necessary. MOTION by Chairwoman Dzineku, seconded by Commissioner Anthes to allow the registered speakers to speak out of agenda order. All in favor. 1. Geoff Foster: Thanked the Commission for the opportunity to speak. Expressed his opinion that the commission had options to allow for more polling locations. 2. Tara Hong: Absent from meeting. 3. John Grossman: Stated that he was not in favor of reducing the number of polling places, expressing his concern that reducing the number of polling places could make it harder for people to vote. 4. Yun-Jun Choi: Stated that she was not in favor of reducing the number of polling places. Expressed concern regarding voters not understanding the new system. Stated that the Coalition for a Better Acre was willing and able to work with the Election Commission. 5. Mary Taraus: Thanked the Commissioners for the opportunity to speak. Expressed her opinion that more polling locations were needed. 6. Paul Gaudette: Stated the Merrimack Valley Project’s support of Common Cause’s proposal. City Solicitor O’Connor reminded the commissioners of the upcoming election timeline. By mid-August ballots and such would have to be off to the printer. Mr. Veloso stated that request for quotes would have to go out two to three months before the primary and that at least a month and a half would be required prior to the primary for materials to go out to the printer. Chairwoman Dzineku stated that post cards, letters and phone text messages would have to be used to inform voter of the changes. Mr. Veloso stated that the City’s current text messaging service that the City employed could only be used for emergency messages, and so would not be an option. Commissioner Anthes inquired if the proposal would create long voter lines. Mr. Veloso stated that long voter lines should not occur with use of early voting, mail-in voting, and drop boxes. MOTION by Chairwoman Dzineku seconded by Commissioner Anthes to table the rest of the meeting until Thursday at 5:30 PM. She proposed that a representative from the Secretary of State’s Office, a representative from LHS, a representative from the Plaintiffs counsel, and the City Solicitor be invited to attend. All in favor MOTION by Chairwoman Dzineku seconded by Commissioner Anthes to continue hearing to Thursday, July 15, 2021, at 5:30 PM. All in favor Meeting ended at 7:02 PM.