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Elections office readies polling changes and bilingual outreach; FY26 budget recommended at $311,368
Summary
The committee recommended the Elections and Registration budget and heard staff outline polling‑place relocations, a push to recruit translators and poll workers, schedule dates for the preliminary and biennial elections, and the potential cost process for any special election tied to an MSBA high‑school debt exclusion.
The Committee on Administration and Finance on Thursday recommended approval of the Elections and Registration FY26 budget, with personnel of $254,718 and expenditures of $56,650 for a department total of $311,368.
Maureen Fisher and members of the elections team described efforts to expand bilingual capacity at polling locations and build a larger pool of translators and poll workers. Fisher said the office now has a second bilingual employee who passed the assessment and receives the bilingual stipend; staff have worked with Salem High, Salem State Civic Engagement and MassHire to recruit translators and youth volunteers. “We believe it would be more beneficial to have a translator, 1 for each precinct,” Fisher said.
The office announced two polling‑place changes previously approved by the council: Ward 3’s Salem High School voting will move from the auditorium to a small gym with its own entrance, and Ward 6’s Bates School will return to the music room (the state reviewed ADA compliance). Fisher said there is no statutory timeline that requires when voters must be notified after council approval; the office plans a combination of mailed maps, social‑media messaging, robocalls and signage in coordination with DPW and the police traffic unit.
Election dates were confirmed: the preliminary is scheduled for Sept. 16 and the biennial for Nov. 4. Fisher reminded prospective candidates that nomination papers are available in the elections office during business hours through Friday, July 25, and must be returned by Tuesday, July 29 at 5 p.m.
Anna Friedman, finance director, told the committee the published budget does not include a one‑time special election cost that would be necessary if the council schedules a debt‑exclusion ballot for an MSBA high‑school project; she said that cost would likely be requested as a free‑cash appropriation and brought back to the council when amounts are known.
Councilor Mesilla moved the budget recommendation; Councilor Harvey seconded and the committee carried the motion.
