The Programs and Services Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the Election Commission’s recommendation to move Ward 3 Precinct 2’s polling place from Temple Shalom to the Warren House, 1600 Washington St., and to authorize $183,395 to fund the city’s March 2025 special election.

John Doyle of the Election Division told the committee Temple Shalom had served as a polling place since the March override election but informed election staff that November 2024 would be their last election as a polling location because the logistics had become “more of a headache than they were willing to deal with.” The Election Commission met in December and voted 33–0 to recommend Warren House as a replacement; Doyle said the site is proximate to the prior location, is on a MBTA bus route and meets ADA requirements after two site surveys.

Councilors asked about public outreach, lighting and parking at the Warren House. Doyle said the city typically posts notices at both the old and new locations and sends postcards; he said the Warren House has an ample supply of visitor parking and that the site passed ADA checks. Councilors asked staff to follow up on exterior lighting ahead of evening voting.

On a separate docket item, the committee considered a mayoral request to appropriate funds for the March 2025 special election to fill a Ward 7 School Committee vacancy. Election staff told the committee the total recommended appropriation is $183,395, driven by postage for vote-by-mail ballots, police details for polling places and other election operating costs. The committee amended the printed docket amount to $183,395 and approved the request unanimously.

Councilor Stephen Farrell, noting the smaller scale of a special election compared with a presidential or citywide November contest, asked election staff about the drivers of the estimate and whether additional outreach could increase turnout. Doyle said the department bases ballot orders on historical turnout and the number of vote‑by‑mail applications and is cautious in ordering extra ballots to avoid running short.

Committee approval of the polling-location change and the amended appropriation will be transmitted to the full City Council for budget and administrative implementation steps.