Some Melrose Voters Told To Return After Problem At Ballots
Voting lists did not include unenrolled voters for part of Tuesday morning, when many hit the polls for the special primary election.
By Mike Carraggi, Patch Staff
Feb 4, 2020 9:46 am ET | Updated Feb 4, 2020 11:29 am ET
MELROSE, MA — Several voters were unable to vote and others had to cast provisional ballots due to a problem with voting lists at polls across the city Tuesday morning. Unenrolled voters were left off the lists handed out to all polling locations in Melrose for a special House election, City Clerk Amy Kamosa confirmed in a statement.
All polling locations had a complete list of registered voters by about 9 a.m.
"Despite an earlier problem, voting is now operating smoothly at all polling locations across the City of Melrose," Kamosa said.
Some voters whose names were not on the list were allowed to vote with a provisional ballot, for which they need identification. Others were not offered a provisional ballot and were told to come back later in the day.
"Our highest priority is to ensure that anyone who is eligible to vote has the opportunity to do so," Kamosa said.
Officials in Malden and Wakefield confirmed to Patch there were no issues with the voting lists in their respective communities. The 32d Middlesex District includes all of Melrose, Precincts 4, 5 and 6 in Wakefield and Ward 5 Precinct 2 in Malden.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. for the special election for the 32d Middlesex District seat formerly held by now-Mayor Paul Brodeur. Democrats Kate Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose, Mathew Helman of Malden and Ann McGonigle Santos of Wakefield, are the only candidates on the ballot.
Voting in Malden was "light" as of 11 a.m., City Clerk Greg Lucey said.
Re: Election Office Debacle as All Independent Voters Eliminated from Voter List
Translation: This was a MELROSE problem (Malden and Wakefield polling lists were fine)!
Voters asked to come back???? (Because, sure, that's totally not a problem for anyone....) Are you kidding me? Is this really how totally incompetent and ARROGANT Melrose officials are? Well of course.
Re: Election Office Debacle as All Independent Voters Eliminated from Voter List
Being told to "come back later" is just not acceptable. It is a real form of voter suppression, whether intentional or not. The city hall types are figuring this was just an unfortunate blip, no doubt, and will want to sweep it under the massively bulging rug (complete with the sewer overflows that were never appropriately dealt with, along with the plethora of illegal actions and results of almost two decades of incompetence).
This whole debacle should force a thorough investigation by the city councillors. Maybe the great freedom-fighter John T will rise to the challenge (not a chance). Macmaster is probably the only one who'd care enough to raise the issue, especially now that Forbes is gone.
Re: Election Office Debacle as All Independent Voters Eliminated from Voter List
"Mike Carraggi For those interested, story has been updated with the city saying it will review procedures. Nearly 12,000 Melrose voters are unenrolled"
Oh sure it will....
Tell us how the sewer system has been thoroughly examined and upgraded after multiple tragedies that left Melrose families homeless and their properties destroyed. That's right, it hasn't been. Tell us how we have a new COMPETENT Health Director. Oh, that's right, Clay is still in her job, as is Van Campen and all the other cast of incompetent and malevolent fools.