Lowell officials weigh polling-site moves and online census ahead of Sept. 9 municipal election

The Rules and Election Subcommittee of the Lowell City Council met April 29 and reviewed plans to shift polling locations, launch an online annual census, and finalize key election dates ahead of the city’s preliminary municipal election on Sept. 9, 2025.

The discussion centered on making polling places more accessible and reducing pressure at heavily used locations while staff complete technical work to roll out an online census that officials hope will increase response rates and reduce lines on Election Day. Will Rosenberry, director of elections for Lowell City, briefed the committee on the timeline and operational details.

Rosenberry said the council previously set a preliminary election date of Sept. 9. "Nomination papers will be released June 10, and they’re gonna be due back for certification July 22," he told the subcommittee. He said the Election Commission will meet May 13 and is expected to recommend early-voting dates, times and locations for a council vote planned for May 20.

On polling locations, Rosenberry said Lowell High School was judged not to meet needs for a polling place and staff are seeking alternatives either within that same precinct or in adjacent precincts. He said the office is considering options that include other schools and downtown properties and that a recommendation will be presented to the full council. Rosenberry said one option under review would move a precinct within the Maury School to the cafeteria to improve accessibility and parking.

Councillors focused on voter convenience and access by bus. Councillor Yang said the senior center is a central, bus-accessible site and urged keeping or restoring it for Ward 7 voters to avoid forcing seniors and bus riders to travel farther. Councillor Kent Scott and others said changes should be publicized and recommended staff consult councilors for local knowledge of convenient locations.

Rosenberry noted the city currently operates with 13 polling locations citywide and said opening additional sites would not require extra poll-worker capacity but would require access arrangements (facility openings and janitorial coverage) and council approval. He named previously used locations such as the Stoklosa and Lincoln schools and suggested private properties (for example, community halls or businesses) could serve if owners agree.

On the annual street-listing (the city’s census used to confirm residency for voter rolls), Rosenberry described the planned online system and its features: a unique ID and QR code on mailed forms, no account creation required, and a vendor procurement process that he said would likely seek quotes below the city’s formal bidding threshold. "The census is conducted annually and failure to respond to that census results in you becoming inactive," Rosenberry said, adding that the office will identify vendors and aim to assign a developer before the end of the fiscal year to have the system ready for the January 2026 listing.

Rosenberry explained the current inactive/deletion process: residents who do not respond to the annual census are switched to inactive status (planned for June 1 for the most recent mailings) and will receive a postage-paid confirmation mailing giving a second opportunity to respond. If an inactive voter does not restore activity by voting or other action over a four-year period (the equivalent of two federal-election cycles), their name may be deleted from the rolls. He said an inactive person who shows identification and signs an affirmation of current and continuous residence at the polls can be allowed to vote that day and will be returned to active status.

Staff provided turnout and roster context: Rosenberry estimated about 72,000 registered voters in the city and said the most recent municipal election drew roughly 7,000 voters (about 10 percent). He said the city plans a roughly 50,000-piece postcard mailing in June to nonrespondents and hopes the online option and postage-paid confirmation mailings will reduce postage costs and lines at polling places.

Councillors also raised technical and operational items: whether the new Lowell High design has adequate power and telephony for election equipment, how to handle split or sub-precincts created by state redistricting (Rosenberry described the possibility of seeking special state legislation to create a sub-precinct such as a proposed "54A" on the east bank of the Concord River), and whether each ward should have a ballot drop box (some councillors advocated one drop box per district; Rosenberry acknowledged safety concerns but said the issue could be discussed further).

The subcommittee did not take formal votes. Rosenberry said the Election Commission’s May 13 meeting should provide recommendations on early voting, and he will bring polling-location proposals to the full council for a May 20 vote. The subcommittee agreed to continue the discussion after May 13 with updated proposals and site surveys.

Next steps include the Election Commission meeting on May 13, staff recommendations to the full council expected May 20, site surveys for alternative polling places including the Maury School cafeteria, and vendor procurement for the online census technology.