Board of Registrars authorizes early in‑person voting for Town of Hubbardston June 9 election

The Town of Hubbardston Board of Registrars voted on May 11 to authorize early in‑person voting for the June 9 town election.

The board approved a schedule the Town Clerk recommended that would open early voting on May 30, the last day to register, with hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., hold daytime sessions the week before the election (Monday through Wednesday), and keep Tuesday evenings open until 8 p.m. "I was recommending to just do it the last the the last day to register to vote is uh Saturday, June 30th. I mean, sorry, May 30th," the Town Clerk said when outlining the proposal. The clerk also said both she and the assistant town clerk would staff voting in the clerks office rather than operating separate staffed polling sites.

Why it matters: authorizing early in‑person voting sets the administrative hours voters can use before election day and affects staffing and access. The clerk noted that this year's ballot contains no questions and no contested races, and that turnout for recent town elections has been low; "there weren't many people that came out last year. I think it was either 40 or 50," the clerk said, citing prior early‑voting totals.

The vote: A motion to authorize early in‑person voting under the recommended hours was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The board did not record individual roll‑call votes in the transcript; the board membership present was confirmed at the start of the meeting as Peter Giffs, Joyce Green and Melody Green, with Marsha Hopper absent.

What to expect next: The clerk and assistant clerk will staff the early voting sessions in the town clerk's office and said they could call in additional registrars if needed for heavier turnout. No additional items were formally attached to this authorization in the transcript.