Fall River council approves emergency home‑rule petition to use Liberal Club as polling location

The Fall River City Council voted on June 23 to pass an emergency home‑rule petition asking the state legislature to authorize the city to designate the Liberal Club’s gold room as a polling location for the 2026 state primary and general elections.

The petition was filed after the council agenda closed; city code requires a vote on an emergency preamble for late filings that relate to special acts. Councilors voted first to adopt the emergency preamble and then adopted the home‑rule petition itself on roll call (7 in favor, 2 opposed). Councilors and the elections director said the change responds to polling‑place consolidation and accessibility assessments; the Elections Department had earlier described a site survey conducted with the Secretary of State’s compliance office that found the Liberal Club accommodated space and parking needs.

Ryan Lions, director of elections, told the council the home‑rule petition arose from continued efforts to move polling away from inaccessible fire stations and housing‑authority locations and to place consolidated precincts in larger, more accessible rooms.

Next steps: The home‑rule petition will be sent to the state legislature (sponsor identified in meeting as Senator Rogers) for action. The council also discussed broader polling‑location consolidation and accessibility work with the Disability Commission and the Elections Department.