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Westport Island board weighs online accessible ballot for local elections, defers decision to May
Summary
The board discussed offering an online accessible ballot for residents with disabilities; the service has a per‑page fee and state support is only provided for state/federal elections. The board noted absentee ballots and aides as alternatives and planned to revisit the item at its May 5 meeting.
Select Board members discussed whether to provide an online accessible ballot for local elections that would allow visually or physically impaired voters to complete ballots electronically.
Board members noted the state provides accessible voting support for state and federal elections but not for local contests, meaning the town would pay a service cost (described in the discussion as roughly $100 per page). Members observed that absentee ballots and having an aid at the polls remain available alternatives: "If I had an absentee ballot... I could have somebody read it to me," one member said when discussing options.
The board agreed the issue did not appear urgent; absentee ballots become available May 13 and the next Select Board meeting is May 5, when members said they could revisit logistics and costs. The discussion also included questions about whether a single resident who previously used the service still lives in town and whether the town clerk could serve as an aid if needed.
No vote was taken; the board will consider the matter again at its May 5 meeting and staff will review the process and costs for setting up the online accessible ballot for a local election.
