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Home My WebLink About2024-01-19-VISION2025-min (DUPLICATE)1 VFL Subcommittee on Local Election Voter Participation January 19, 2024 10 AM Zoom Minutes Members in Attendance: Marian Cohen, Margaret Coppe, Dan Joyner, Fernando Quezada, Jeri Zeder Members not in Attendance: Eileen Zalsik The meeting was called to order at 10:10 AM. A quorum was present. Chair Jeri Zeder read the script for remotely conducted open meetings. Members voted unanimously: Coppe Aye, Joyner Aye, Quezada Aye, Zeder, Aye, Cohen, Aye. Approval of the December 15, 2023 minutes was moved by Jeri Zeder and seconded by Fernando Quezada with two edits: add Dan Joyner to attendees and correct spelling of Jeri Zeder’s name, and voted unanimously. Voice vote: Coppe Aye, Joyner Aye, Quezada Aye, Aye, Cohen, Abstain. Discussion items 1. Jeri offered that we should not worry about redundancy at this time. Fernando reviewed his document. Comments Marian: substitute correlated, predict, or predictable for causal The words “Lexington can assume…” and “community contentment…” are not necessarily accurate Last sentence—not speaking for others—problematic Margaret: last sentence of third paragraph: “Perceived” lack of competition for local offices; delete word “perceived” Dan: the Association of Black Citizens of Lexington are sponsoring a discussion on affordable housing and its impact on the community 2. Review of literature Marian presented. 3. Local voting history Margaret will continue to work on the data and how it is presented. Questions to be answered are • Breakdown of turnout by in person vs vote by mail vs early in person voting • Was there in person voting in 2020 after Covid shutdown 4. Factors affecting voter turnout Jeri and Dan will look into information on senior voting, will reach out to the Council on Aging Will talk to Sean Osborne about the history of Black voting in Lexington Need to balance with information on Asian-American voters 2 There will be a warrant article—43—at the 2024 Town Meeting asking the town to ask the state to allow registered 16 years-old to vote in municipal elections. If passed and implemented, what effect might that have on turnout. • Dan will write first draft of section on civic engagement, with Jeri as partner • Dan will also write up the recent voting reforms that have taken place in Massachusetts, and the impact, if any, that they may have on voter turnout, with Fernando as partner (Jeri can point to some info on this, if needed) • Margaret will reorganize the voting history tables for easier analysis • Marion will add missing interviews to the Literature Review draft, with Jeri supplying access to the interview notes • Jeri will write first draft of section on what Lexington youth are learning about civics in school and elsewhere, with Dan as partner Deadlines • Writers will submit their drafts to their partners by Feb. 1. • Drafts will be submitted to Jeri by Feb. 7. The December meeting will be February 16, 2024 at 10 AM by Zoom Minutes submitted by Margaret Coppe