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Resident urges Town of Danvers to adopt electronic voting at Town Meeting to improve accuracy and inclusion
Summary
A town meeting member urged the Select Board to consider electronic voting systems used by other Massachusetts towns, citing improved accuracy, transparency and accessibility, and suggested possible funding routes and backup procedures.
At the start of public comment, Lauren Steeves, a member of Town Meeting from Precinct 3, urged the Select Board to consider adopting electronic voting at town meetings to replace ambiguous voice votes.
Steeves argued that voice votes can advantage louder attendees and disadvantage those with quieter voices or speech impairments, and that electronic voting systems "provide greater accuracy, transparency, and efficiency." She cited recent examples from other Massachusetts communities and said 17 of 32 representative‑town‑meeting towns statewide have adopted electronic voting systems, including Shrewsbury, which received $12,000 from a state senator to help buy a system.
Steeves told the board that precincts using keypad or single‑button remote systems report ease of use across age groups and that systems contain fallbacks — such as reverting to roll call or standing votes — if technology fails. She also described a May 20, 2025 example in Shrewsbury where a moderator’s initial call was overturned by a standing vote, underscoring the potential for ambiguity in vocal tallies.
Steeves urged the board to consider electronic voting to improve fairness and suggested the town explore grant or legislative funding to offset startup costs.
