TYNGSBORO Voters will have from 12 noon to 8 p.m. to cast their ballots at their polling place in next Tuesday’s town election, according to a vote of the Board of Selectmen Monday night.
That vote attempts to resolve confusion and anger caused by conflicting polling hours. Selectmen initially set 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. as the poll hours, but Town Clerk Joann Shifres set poll hours from 12 noon to 7 p.m.
Voters who still have issues with voting hours are encouraged to go to the clerk’s office in Town Hall. These voters must each sign a form, then they each get a ballot which to fill out on the spot. Their ballots can be turned in right then and there, but must be turned in by the time polls close.
Town clerk office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 to noon on Friday.
Selectmen set the voting hours at the board’s May 24 meeting. However, Shifres began planning for the election weeks before that and adopted the model used last year with COVID-19 restricted hours.
Selectmen did not learn about the changed voting hours until the week of May 30.
“There was no mention of reducing polling hours before this past week,” Selectman Ron Keohane said previously.
Town Administrator Matt Hanson said, “She had to proceed with booking poll workers and other arrangements before Gov. Charlie Baker lifted all COVID restrictions.”
Selectman Ron Keohane was critical of the limited hours, especially losing the hour between 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. He called that hour “critical” especially for commuters. That hour was restored in the selectmen’s Monday night vote.
Restoring the morning hours would be difficult because poll workers have already been hired and trained. “You just can’t walk in and volunteer for this job. You have to have training,” Selectman Hillari Wennerstrom said.
Wennerstrom emphasized that one COVID-19 restriction still applies. Masks will be required to vote at Tyngsboro’s schools. “You will be turned away if you do wear a mask,” she said.
Wennerstrom said the confusion over voting hours “was technically a mistake on our part.”
Selectman Rick Reault also appeared to take some responsibility for the confusion. “We were remiss not to discuss this with her.”
Then, she raised an issue that has become central to the upcoming election: letting professionals do their jobs.
“Joann is a certified professional and it is important to support that,” she said.
The high-profile race on the ballot this year is for two seats on the Board of Selectmen. David Robson is seeking re-election and Steve Nocco isn’t. There are three challengers: Eric Eldridge, Katerina Kalabokis and Ken Pappas.
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With Tyngsboro election around the corner, voting hour controversy resolved - Lowell Sun
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