COVID-19 pandemic forces Grafton to move election, Town Meeting to June
Spring Town Meeting and the Town Election will be moved to late June due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought Grafton its 24th case on Tuesday.
“We don’t know what is going to happen now,” Town Clerk Kandy Lavallee said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen three weeks from now.”
Turnout is expected to be heavy due to contested races for Select Board and Town Moderator, as well as a $4 million Proposition 2 1/2 override question.
Gov. Charlie Baker recently approved legislation to allow communities to postpone elections and town meetings up to June 30, the final day of Fiscal Year 2020, to ensure that local democracy does not come with a fatal dose of coronavirus.
“My number one concern would be our voters going out to vote because they think they have no choice,” Select Board member Doreen DeFazio said.
Town Moderator Ray Mead proposed that the town set Town Meeting for a Saturday, an often-requested change by both senior citizens and parents. The board agreed to tentatively set dates for June 20 for Town Meeting and June 23, contingent on the availability of the Grafton High School auditorium.
“Kicking a school event out that might be using those buildings — that’s the last thing I want to put my name on,” Select Board member Peter Carlson said.
Lavallee said most of her election wardens are older and at-risk for COVID-19 complications and reluctant to risk crowds at this stage of the pandemic. Voters will be able to request absentee ballots to be mailed to them for coronavirus concerns. Early voting may also be offered through the mail.
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Contested race for Moderator? I have only seen one name, I think.
Spinney and Concaugh.