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 Board of Election Commissioners Meeting Wednesday August 17, 2021 Zoom Meeting - Recorded 5:30 PM 1. Roll Call and Attendance Start Time 5:31 PM Meeting called to order by Chairwoman Dzineku. All commissioners present. 2. Old Business a. Vote to accept minutes from prior meetings. August 3, 2021, and August 11, 2021. MOTION by Commissioner Pope, seconded by Chairwoman Dzineku to accept the amended minutes of August 11, 2021 meeting. All in favor; motion passes. MOTION by Commissioner Pope, seconded by Chairwoman Dzineku to accept the minutes of August 3, 2021 meeting. All in favor; motion passes Commissioner Pope asked Mr. Veloso if there were any changes to the list of candidates who qualified for the 2021 municipal elections provided at the last meeting. Mr. Veloso stated that the list of candidates remained the same. Mr. Veloso informed the commissioners that there was one registered speaker, Sally Coulter. Chairwoman Dzineku recognized Ms. Coulter. Ms. Coulter informed the commissioners that she found an error in Professor Stewart’s report regarding certain split districts. Mr. Veloso informed Ms. Coulter and the commissioners that the error had been identified and was being corrected. Mr. Veloso thanked Ms. Coulter for her communication to the Election Office. 3. Continued Business. a. Early in-person voting hours and location for 2021 election. i. Vote to designate satellite early in-person voting polling locations, dates and hours for September 21, 2021 Preliminary Election. Mr. Veloso informed the commissioners of his communications with the Lowell School Department and that they were willing to provide school space for satellite polling locations for the 2021 municipal elections. Mr. Veloso also informed the commissioners that the Coalition for 1 a Better Acre and the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association also expressed support to allow the use of their facilities for satellite early voting polling locations. Mr. Veloso informed the commissioners of the recommendations of the Election Commission’s expert. Mr. Veloso stated that the commissioners, when setting hours and locations should be aware of the need for time to account for the transport equipment and the early voting poll pad to the satellite locations. Mr. Veloso stated that as a consequence, only one in-person early voting polling location could be used at a time. Mr. Pope inquired how the early in-person voting process was different than on Election Day. Mr. Veloso informed Mr. Pope about the early voting process, how early voting ballots are secured in affidavit envelopes, and how they are secured until delivered to the polls on Election Day for processing. Mr. Veloso also informed the Commissioners that the goal would be to use locations that will not be polling locations on Election Day and that are in areas that could meet voter needs. MOTION by Commissioner Pope seconded by Chairwoman Dzineku to set the hours for early in-person voting at 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM for all ten days of early voting for the 2021 Preliminary, with an appropriate break for set up and moving to a satellite location. All in favor; motion passes. MOTION by Commissioner Pope seconded by Chairwoman Dzineku to approve the following locations and times for in-person early voting for the 2021 Preliminary Election: − Wednesday, September 8, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM - 4 PM; Greenhalge Elementary School (149 Ennell St.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Thursday, September 9, 20201: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM - 4 PM; Greenhalge Elementary School (149 Ennell St.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Friday, September 10, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM - 4 PM; Greenhalge Elementary School (149 Ennell St.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Saturday, September 11, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 9 AM - 3 PM; J.G. Pyne School (145 Boylston St.) 4 PM – 8 PM. − Sunday, September 12, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 9 AM – 3 PM; J.G. Pyne School (145 Boylston St.) 4 PM – 8 PM. − Monday, September 13, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM – 4 PM; Lowell High School (50 Father Morissette Blvd.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Tuesday, September 14, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM – 4 PM; Lowell High School (50 Father Morissette Blvd.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Wednesday, September 15, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM – 4 PM; Coalition for a Better Acre (517 Moody St.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Thursday, September 16, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM – 4 PM; Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (465 School St.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Friday, September 17, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM – 4 PM; Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (465 School St.) 5 PM – 8 PM. All in favor; motion passes. i. Vote to designate satellite early in-person voting polling locations and hours for November 2, 2021, Municipal Elections. 2  Mr. Veloso informed the commissioners that the ten days before the Municipal Election would be Wednesday October 20, 2021, through Friday October 29, 2021. MOTION by Commissioner Pope seconded by Chairwoman Dzineku to set the hours for early in-person voting at 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM for all ten days of early voting for the 2021 Municipal Election, with an appropriate break for set up and moving to a satellite location. All in favor; motion passes. MOTION by Commissioner Pope seconded by Chairwoman Dzineku to approve the following locations and times for in-person early voting for the 2021 Preliminary Election: − Wednesday, October 20, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM - 4 PM; Pawtucketville Memorial Elementary School (425 W. Meadow Rd.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Thursday, October 21 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM - 4 PM; McAvinnue School (131 Mammoth Rd.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Friday, October 22, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM - 4 PM; Greenhalge Elementary School (149 Ennell St.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Saturday, October 23, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 9 AM - 3 PM; Greenhalge Elementary School (149 Ennell St.) 4 PM – 8 PM. − Sunday, October 24, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 9 AM - 3 PM; J.G. Pyne School (145 Boylston St.) 4 PM – 8 PM. − Monday, October 25, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM – 4 PM; J.G. Pyne School (145 Boylston St.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Tuesday, October 26, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM – 4 PM; Butler Middle School (1140 Gorham St.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Wednesday, October 27, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM – 4 PM; Lowell High School (50 Father Morissette Blvd.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Thursday, October 28, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM – 4 PM; Morey School (114 Pine St.) 5 PM – 8 PM. − Friday, October 29, 2021: Lowell Senior Center (276 Broadway St.) 8 AM – 4 PM; Daley School (150 Fleming St.) 5 PM – 8 PM. All in favor. Motion passes New Business a. Communication to Election Commission on discussion of Disability Commission to purchase Automark tables and privacy screens. Mr. Veloso informed the commissioners that the Disability Commission met on August 12, 2021. As part of the deliberations, the Disability Commission voted to authorize the purchase of Automark tables and privacy screens for use in future elections. Commissioner Pope asked if the table could be moved from location to location for early voting. Mr. Veloso said they could be. b. Communication to Election Commission on decision of Disability Commission to hire ASL translator to participate in a day of in-person early voting. 3  Mr. Veloso informed the commissioners that the Disability Commission authorized the hiring of an ASL translator to participate in a day of in-person early voting. The commissioners recommended that the ASL translator be present at the Lowell Senior Center the first day of in- person early voting. Chairwoman Dzineku inquired about safety preparations in light of COVID-19. Mr. Veloso stated that plans were to continue use of preventative measures used in the 2020 elections, including PPE, masks, Plexiglas dividers, and social distancing measures. Commissioner Anthes inquired if there were sufficient poll workers. Mr. Veloso informed the commissioners that they were actively seeking out additional poll workers and scheduling training sessions. Chairwoman Dzineku suggested that the first training session be recorded. 4. Adjournment MOTION by Commissioner Pope seconded by Commissioner Anthes to adjourn. All in favor motion passes Meeting ended at 7:04 PM. 4