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 Thursday July 15, 2021 Zoom meeting 5:30 PM MEETING MINUTES 1. Roll Call and Attendance Start Time 5:35 PM Meeting called to order by Chairwoman Zoe Dzineku. All commissioners present. Mr. Veloso informed the Commissioners that the Zoom meeting was also being recorded. 2. Old Business a. Vote to accept minutes from prior meetings. Minutes from prior meetings were not available. 3. New Business a. Discussion on polling locations for City’s eight municipal districts for 2021 municipal elections. MOTION by Chairwoman Dzineku seconded by Commissioner Beverly Anthes to permit all registered speakers to speak first ahead of agenda items. All in favor. Mr. Geoff Foster stated that it was his understanding that the 2010 census data could be used to sub- divide the municipal districts. City Solicitor O’Connor informed the Election Commission that currently the Federal Consent Decree does not permit the commission to subdivide the districts. Solicitor O’Connor stated that she spoke with Plaintiffs’ counsel and that they are open to amending the consent decree to permit such subdivision, but that any amendments would have to be approved by the parties and the federal court. Solicitor O’Connor expressed her concerns with Mr. Pope’s plan, as it would not allow poll workers to track voters who attempted to vote more than once and ensure integrity in the process. Solicitor O’Connor also told the commissioners that the Secretary of State’s Office reviewed and expressed similar concerns with Mr.  Pope’s proposed plan. Solicitor O’Connor discussed the other efforts the City was pursing to aid with voting in the municipal elections, including early in-person voting, vote-by-mail, and ballot drop boxes. MOTION by Chairwoman Dzineku to approve of Commissioner Pope’s proposed map and plan. Seconded by Commissioner Pope. Roll call: Chair Dzineku - No, Vice-Chair Pope - Yes, Commissioner Anthes - No, Commissioner Paton - Yes. Motion does not pass 2-2. b. Discussion on feasibility of Common Cause” Roadmap to 16 Polling Locations in Lowell.” Chairwoman Dzineku permitted Mr. Foster to speak on the agenda item. Mr. Foster spoke in favor of the Common Cause “Roadmap to 16” proposal, which would create two or more polling locations within each district. Mr. Foster expressed hope that commissioners would adopt it. (Note: Common Cause proposal was not provided to Election Office prior to posting of agenda.) Chairwoman Dzineku inquired if there were any other members of the public who wished to speak. No one else from the public spoke on the item. No further discussion. MOTION by Chair Dzineku to adopt the Common Cause “Roadmap to 16” proposal. Seconded by Commissioner Anthes. Roll call: Chair Dzineku - Yes, Vice Chair Pope - Yes, Commissioner Anthes - Yes, Commissioner Paton - Yes. All in favor motion passes. c. Update of implementation of 2021 municipal elections with LHS Associates. No update. 4. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Anthes to adjourn. Seconded by Vice-Chair Pope. All in favor Meeting ended at 6:04 PM.