04/06/2020 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Agenda Packet

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".Preserving public trust,providing professional services" Deborah Dams MMC CM MC �3 office of the T 1 M , own Clerk Town Clerk na :�,r�. Mashpee Town Hall <Py� .. 508�-539--1418 �An �a 16 Great Neck Road North ddam*l@mashpeema.gov Mashpee,MA 02649 To: Board of Selectmen Rodney Collins, Town.Manager From: Deborah F. Dam.i Town Clerk Date: April 2, 2020 Re: May 19, 2020 Annual Town Election As may be aware,the State Legislature enacted legislation last week to allow towns to Y Y move their Annual Town Meeting and the Annual Town Election during the current coronavirus state of emergency. In accordance with the Mashpee General Code, Mashpee's Annual Town Election is scheduled for May 19, 2020. The legislation allows towns to reschedule their elections to another date and time, move their election location, and also allow for early voting. Early voting by mail is similar to absentee voting, but unlike absentee voting, no excuse is required. The legislation allows towns to move the election location without having to notify each "voter" household. Under the circumstances it behooves the Board of Selectmen to consider for the upcoming Annual Town Election keeping it out of the Quashnet School and move it to Town p g Kali. It is my recommendation that we administer this years' Mashpee's Annual Town Election in such a way everyone one is comfortable with the electoral process. I would ask that the Board Y of Selectmen consider the following: * Schedule the election at Town Hall on May 19,2020,from 10 am to 3 pm. Current election laws only require uire that local elections begin no later than 12 noon and for a minimum. of four hours. Shortening the hours will encourage voters to cast their vote by mail. while the Governor may begin easing the "socially-acceptable distancing" requirement, by May Y g g 19th it is opinion that it is going to be a long time before America feels comfortable s Y p g g