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Select Board declines request to shorten polling hours for June local election
Summary
Assistant Town Clerk M. Kronholm asked the Select Board to cut polling hours on June 13, 2026 to 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; the board agreed the change would be controversial and kept the standard 10 a.m.–4 p.m. schedule to preserve equal access to voting.
The Blandford Select Board on April 13 rejected a request to shorten polling hours for the town’s June 13 local election.
Assistant Town Clerk M. Kronholm asked the board to change polling hours from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. to 10 a.m.–2 p.m., saying local contests are typically slower than national elections and shorter hours would often suffice. The board, which discussed the request during its regular meeting, concluded that reducing hours would be “too controversial” and could limit equal access to voting, and therefore decided not to shorten the hours.
The board did not record a formal roll-call vote on the change; meeting minutes state the board "reasoned and agreed" to keep the longer hours. The June 13 poll will therefore remain open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The decision came amid routine town business including appointments and maintenance funding; the board also addressed preparations for Blandford’s 250th anniversary and several departmental updates during the 44-minute meeting.
Meeting minutes were submitted by Joann Martin, executive assistant to the Select Board.
