Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections Polling Locations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Taunton elections panel agrees to shift two precincts to Olney Street senior center
Summary
The Taunton City Elections Commission voted to recommend moving Precincts 2A and 2B to the Olney Street senior center, backfilling Precincts 1A and 1A1 at Oak Street; commissioners cited ADA access and proximity to senior housing.
TAUNTON, Mass. — The Taunton City Elections Commission voted Tuesday to recommend that Precincts 2A and 2B be assigned to the Olney Street senior center, and that Precincts 1A and 1A1 be served instead at the Oak Street polling location.
Elections Director Marc Pacheco told the commission the change responds to public feedback that a senior housing complex near Olney Street has been traveling across precinct lines to vote and would be better served at the center outside their building. "They look right out their window and they have to drive on the other side of the precinct to vote," Pacheco said, arguing the move would improve voter access and convenience.
The commission discussed a city map during the meeting and said the Olney Street facility has been upgraded to modern ADA standards, with new flooring and parking. Pacheco said the elections department will install folding directional signs and posting that list streets by precinct inside locations that house more than one precinct, so voters can confirm their correct line without waiting in the wrong queue.
Commissioners noted that polling places should generally fall within or adjacent to the precinct they serve; staff said drive times from the affected streets to the new site were about one to two minutes. Pacheco said the commission initially recommended different assignments at a previous meeting but changed the recommendation after receiving council feedback and public comment.
Votes at a glance: The commission approved the recommendation to update polling locations (motion made and seconded; voice vote, all in favor). The commission also approved the February minutes, closed public input by motion, made correspondence part of the record, and voted to adjourn (all by voice vote; in each case commissioners answered "Aye").
The commission said it will present the updated polling-location recommendation to the Taunton City Council so the council and the elections department recommendations will align. Pacheco emphasized that the issue was flagged by the public and that residents should report accessibility or travel concerns to the elections office so they can be considered in future precincting discussions.
The commission set its next meeting for April 22 at 4 p.m.
