HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-04-28-VISION2025-min (Subcommittee on Local Election Voter Participation) RECEIVED
VFL Subcommittee on Local Election Voter Participation
April 28, 2023TOWN: CLERK
10 AM
Zoom LEXINGTON I
Draft Minutes
Members in Attendance: Margaret Coppe, Daniel Joyner, Fernando Quezada(joined late), Eileen Zalisk,
Jeri Zeder
Members Absent: Marian Cohen
Staff James Robinson set up the Zoom meeting and was present for the start, after which he left.
The meeting was called to order at 10:05 AM. A quorum was present. Chair Jeri Zeder read the script for
remotely conducted open meetings.
Members voted unanimously: Coppe Aye,Joyner, Aye, Zalisk Aye, Zeder, Aye.
Approval of the minutes from the March 17, 2023, meeting were moved by Daniel Joyner and seconded
by Margaret Coppe, and voted unanimously. Voice vote: Coppe Aye, Joyner, Aye, Zalisk, Aye, Zeder,
Aye.
Updates on action items:
• Eileen Zalisk reported on her town clerk research. After contacting the Secretary of State's office
and some town clerks, she proposes talking to the town clerks in Middlesex County which
includes 12 cities and 25 towns for a total of 37. She has a list of questions which she will share
on Google Docs. Discussion included reasons for voter apathy.
Discussion items:
a. Contested elections and voter turnout
Fernando Quezada spoke about elected Town representatives. He mentioned that there are other
forms of participation than voting or being elected, such as calling referendum elections and
volunteering for committees. Voters are concerned with their own interest, e.g.property value
and are not oriented toward the greater good. A more engaged citizenry might go towards
increasing voter turnout.
b. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)
A slide presentation from a group headed by Lexington citizen Sreem Chippida,who is
advocating for the Town of Lexington to adopt RCV for local, state and national elections,was
shown.
Jeri Zeder reported that one of the professors she interviewed had reservations about RCV
Margaret Coppe is in favor,based on information in the presentation,including recommending
adoption of RCV to the Select Board
Questions for Mr. Chippida were
o How would this increase voter turnout?
o What effect does bullet voting have on RCV?
o What effect would voting for one candidate as first, second, third, etc.have?
Margaret will be meeting Mr. Chippida on May 1 and will get answers to these questions.
c. Shared Google Drive
Jeri Zeder has set up a Google Drive with documents for the subcommittee. After consultation with
the Town Clerk, she will be the only one, with one exception, to have editing access. The exception is
that in the event Ms. Zeder is unable to access the Google Drive, Ms. Coppe has been granted editing
privileges. The Google Drive in keeping with Open Meeting Law is available to be read by all
members of the committee and the public. Town Counsel was consulted by the Town Clerk and this
has been approved.
d. Draft outline
Brief discussion followed about the general outline and contents.
Daniel Joyner offered to work on a section about citizen participation
Fernando Quezada suggested the article authored by Jeri Zeder for the Lex Observer be included
in the resources.
Jeri will put further information on the May agenda.
The meeting adjourned at 11: 03 AM by unanimous voice vote: Coppe, Aye, Joyner, Aye, Quezada Aye,
Zalisk, Aye, Zeder, Aye.
The next meeting of the VFL Subcommittee on Local Election Voter Participation will be held on May
19, 2023 at 10 AM by Zoom.
Minutes submitted by
Margaret Coppe