HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-21-VISION2025-min (Subcommittee on Local Election Voter Participation)1
VFL Subcommittee on Local Election Voter Participation
March 21, 2025
10 AM
Zoom
Approved Minutes
Members in Attendance: Margaret Coppe, Marian Cohen, Fernando Quezada, Eileen Zalisk, Jeri Zeder
Members not in Attendance: Daniel Joyner
Guest: Bob Pressman
The meeting was called to order at 10:01 AM. A quorum was present. Chair Jeri Zeder read the script for
remotely conducted open meetings.
Members voted unanimously: Coppe Aye; Cohen Aye, Quezada, Aye; Zalisk, Aye; Zeder Aye.
Jere Zeder moved and Eileen Zalisk moved approval of the January 24, 2025 and February 21, 2025 minutes.
Coppe Aye; Cohen Aye, Quezada, Aye; Zalisk, Aye; Zeder Aye.
The vote was unanimous.
Discussion Rewrite 03.21.2025
a. Do we need all the graphs?
p. 18-25
What are we trying to say with the graphs?
Is the data a reflection of all years?
Does voting in special elections (debt exclusions, overrides) differ from municipal elections?
Consensus that the breakdown by precinct did not present information about local elections that was
relevant and in fact may lead to competitive views of precincts (my precinct votes better than yours)
Does length of residency correlate to voting? It was pointed out that would be difficult to do since
different data bases make it difficult to do.
b. Recommendations
Election data that should be included
Age
Contested Election
Referendum
Concurrent election
Advent of mail in voting
It was pointed out that there was confusion about applying for a mail in ballot in this year’s local
municipal election. People who checked the box requesting a ballot for all elections “this year” on the
form sent from the Secretary of State in 2024, did not realize that did not apply to 2025.
Margaret will talk to the Town Clerk to see if she has the data on the 2025 municipal election about the
number of ballots, the number of mail in ballots, and the number of absentee ballots. Will ask her about
her vision for future voting locations and if there were any problems with having six of the nine
precincts voting in one location (Cary Hall0.
p.41 line 6, delete “met with enthusiasm by the Select Board”
Robert Pressman asked about the relationship of the change in location of voting places to turnout. Was
it inconvenient for voters?
He also noted that citizens are not going to the Town website for information.
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All committee members need to review the recommendations and send their comments and edits to Jere.
Jeri moved adjournment at 11:02 AM.
Jeri moved and Fernando seconded adjournment. Members voted unanimously: Coppe Aye; Cohen Aye,
Quezada, Aye; Zalisk, Aye; Zalisk, Aye; Zeder Aye
The next meeting will be April 25, 2025 at 10 AM by Zoom
Minutes submitted by
Margaret Coppe