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 27, 2021 Via Zoom Conference 5:30 PM MEETING MINUTES 1. Roll Call and Attendance Start time 5:35 Meeting called to order by Chairwoman Dzineku. All Commissioners present. 2. Old Business a. Vote to accept minutes from prior meetings. No minutes were available. No vote taken. 3. New Business Chairwoman Dzineku allowed Item 3d to be taken out of order per request of Mr. Veloso. 3d. Discussion regarding expert assistance on dividing districts. Mr. Veloso introduced Professor Charles Stewart from MIT to the Commissioners. Professor Stewart was retained by the City of Lowell Election Commission to assist the commissioners with the potential subdivision of the districts and with early voting. 3a. Discussion on polling locations for City’s eight municipal districts for 2021 municipal elections. Interim Director Elliott Veloso informed the Commissioners regarding a meeting held on Monday with with Professor Stewart, Chairwoman Dzineku, City Solicitor O’Connor, and Mr. Veloso. Mr. Veloso informed the commission that during the meeting the group discussed the districts, potential subdivision, polling locations, and other issues that Professor Stewart could analyze and provide recommendations. Mr. Veloso reminded the commissioners that the federal consent decree first needed to be amended and approved by the Federal Court before any potential subdivision of polling locations could be done.  Chairwoman Dzineku asked Professor Stuart if he would like to speak. Professor Stuart informed the commissioners that he was delighted to be working with the Election Commission. Professor Stuart discussed his initial assessments and how science could help determine whether subdistricting or multiple polling locations were needed. Chairwoman Dzineku expressed her hope that additional polling locations could be available where needed. Chairwoman Dzineku asked if there was an update from LHS and the Secretary of State’s office. Mr. Veloso stated that they were not present. Chairwoman Dzineku asked that they both be invited to the next meeting. (Refer to the meeting recording for further discussion.) 3b Discussion on early voting hours and location for 2021 preliminary election. Mr. Veloso informed the commissioners that the State Legislature had approved a bill that would permit early voting for all elections until the end of the year. However, the legislation was not yet signed by the Governor. Based on the text of the bill, early voting if approved would be up to 10 days before the election. Mr. Veloso suggested that early voting could be done just like last year at the Senior Center. Chairwoman Dzineku asked if the use of City Hall was possible. Mr. Veloso stated he would look into it. 3c. Update of ballot drop boxes for 2021 municipal elections. Mr. Veloso informed the commissioners that new drop boxes had been ordered by the City. Mr. Veloso discussed the procedures relative to the use of drop boxes, such as monitoring and security requirements. Mr. Veloso stated that one of the ballot boxes would be in the JFK Plaza at City Hall facing the Police Station so that it could be monitored. 4. Adjournment MOTION by Vice-Chair Pope to adjourn seconded by Commissioner Anthes. All in favor. Meeting ended at 6:16 PM