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<br />VFL Subcommittee on Local Election Voter Participation
<br />March 17, 2023
<br />10 AM
<br />Zoom
<br />
<br />Minutes
<br />
<br />Members in Attendance: Marian Cohen, Margaret Coppe, Daniel Joyner, Fernando Quezada Eileen
<br />Zalisk, Jeri Zeder
<br />
<br />Staff James Robinson set up the Zoom meeting and was present for the start, after which he left.
<br />
<br />The meeting was called to order at 10:03 AM. A quorum was present. Interim Chair Coppe read the script
<br />for remotely conducted open meetings.
<br />Members voted unanimously: Cohen Aye, Coppe Aye, Joyner, Aye, Quezada Aye, Zalisk Aye, Zeder,
<br />Aye.
<br />
<br />Marian Cohen moved, and Fernando Quezeda seconded, approving Jeri Zeder as chair. Members voted
<br />unanimously: Cohen, Aye, Coppe, Aye, Joyner, Aye, Quezeda, Aye, Zalisk, Aye, Zeder, Aye.
<br />
<br />Margaret Coppe volunteered to take minutes.
<br />
<br />The minutes from the January 24, 2023, meeting (as amended, correct date) were were moved by
<br />Fernando Quezeda, seconded by Marian Cohen, and voted unanimously. Voice vote: Cohen Aye, Coppe
<br />Aye, Joyner, Aye, Quezada Aye, Zalisk, Aye, Zeder, Aye.
<br />
<br />Updates on action items:
<br /> Jeri Zeder will set up a Google folder for the committee with the results of her research on voting
<br />practices. Anyone who has responses from research should send to Jeri and she will upload to
<br />Google docs
<br />She interviewed five professors from across the country, two by phone and three by email.
<br />Their comments reinforced information that has been gathered.
<br />The transcripts will be uploaded to the Google doc file.
<br /> Eileen Zalisk will report on conversations with town clerks at next meeting.
<br /> Margaret Coppe contacted two local League of Women Voters and has heard back from one,
<br />Concord-Carlisle. She has started a spreadsheet with their information and will send to Jeri, along
<br />with the narrative. She is waiting to hear back from the Acton Area League and will contact the
<br />Leagues of Arlington, Bedford, and Winchester.
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<br />Daniel Joyner left the meeting at 10:30 AM.
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<br />Discussion followed. Jeri will start writing a report. Fernando mentioned that there may be negative
<br />concerns about increasing voter turnout. Voter turnout may be higher in cities as opposed to towns. It was
<br />suggested looking at Framingham’s voting history as it recently went from a town government to a city
<br />government.
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<br />The meeting adjourned at 1l: 03 AM by unanimous voice vote: Cohen Aye, Coppe, Aye, Quezada Aye,
<br />Zalisk, Aye, Zeder, Aye.
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