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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-06-16-VISION2025-min (Subcommittee on Local Election Voter Participation) VFL Subcommittee on Local Election Voter Participation June 16, 2023 10 AM Zoom Approved Minutes Members in Attendance: Marian Cohen, Margaret Coppe, Daniel Joyner, Fernando Quezada, Eileen Zalisk, Jeri Zeder Guest: Margaret Heitz Staff: Cathy Severance, Office Manager, Town Manager Office Cathy Severance set up the Zoom meeting explained the procedure to deal with “Zoom bombs) which had occurred in a previous meeting. The meeting needs two hosts, one to run the meeting and the other to monitor attendance. Dan Joyner volunteered to monitor the attendance. She left the meeting. 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: Cohen, Aye, Coppe Aye, Joyner, Aye, Quezada Aye, Zalisk, Aye, Zeder, Aye. Approval of the minutes from the May 19, 2023, meeting was moved by Jeri Zeder and seconded by Marian Cohen, and voted unanimously. Voice vote: Cohen Abstain, Coppe Aye, Joyner, Aye, Quezada, Aye, Zeder, Aye, Zalisk, Abstain. Discussion items: Draft Report to Select Board Outline I. Define issue and why it matters a. Low turnout in local elections b. Engaged citizenry II. Executive Summary To follow III. Background a. Community awareness about Lexington’s low voter turnout  Marian Cohen commented that care needs to be taken with language  Change low voter turnout to local elections  Newspapers, social media  Town emails  Concern about vertical top down dessimation of information as opposed to horizontal among groups.  Consult ECiL report b. Voter turnout  Literature review  Interviews  To follow  c. History of voter turnout in Lexington elections  Mail in history  Future of elections  Type of elections (contested, ballot questions)  Same day as state or federal  Weather  Consult Enhancing Communication in Lexington (ECiL) report d. Brief Comparison with other municipalities  Marian Cohen and Margaret Coppe have this data e. Shape of Lexington town government  Number of town wide elected offices f. Attitudes of voters generally  2022 VFL survey g. What is Lexington Town Government already doing to increase voter turnout in local elections  Change to “make voters aware of local elections”  Code Red calls  Tax mailing inserts (do not go to renters)  Emails h. What Lexington youth are learning  School curriculum  Other youth organizations (Scouts)  Signage in Town buildings where youth meet (library, Munroe Center) IV. Factors Affecting Voter Turnout a. Timing  Day of week  Time of year  Need to check election laws  2022 VFL Survey b. Competition c. Information about elections, candidates, issues d. Barriers to voting e. Reach out to various groups  Committee on Disability Invite chair to meeting  CAAL  IAL  ABCL  Cautious about reaching out to leaders who may not accurately represent the membership  Use of “marginalized” vs “marginal”  Suggestion: send out the section of the 2022 VFL survey pertaining to voting to member of the groups. b. Engaged Citizenry Daniel Joyner Presentation on importance of relating to community members. Examples of events: Salem United sponsoring Negro Election Day, July 16 Quock Walker Day in Lexington, July 8 The meeting adjourned at 11:05 AM by unanimous voice vote: Cohen, Aye, 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 July 21, 2023 at 10 AM by Zoom. Minutes submitted by Margaret Coppe