Amy, I totally agree with you. There should be at least two voting places for an election as important as this. Shame on Seekonk if citizens stay away or turn away because they cannot find a parking place. Of course, we'll never know. Another thing is that many towns in the area who use schools for voting, give the kids a day off, which I'm sure is made up somewhere down the line. This alone can free up a lot of parking places especially in a high school. If nothing else, maybe Seekonk could consider that.

As for the chattering in the background, I don't think the TM has ever read a report when two or three, when McLintock is present, haven't had a sidebar conversation going on. It's rude and disrespectful.

The 'open positions' has always been a charade. It's a waste of time all around, and don't believe that the application is put on file for future possibilities because the future possibilities have someone's name on them already. Nepotism is alive in well in Seekonk.

A also agree.
I have not watched a meeting since before the special election.

Just curious. Is Mrs Parker still suggesting that everyone qualifies for an absentee ballot? Every time I hear her speak on the issue, that seems to be what she is saying.

Hi, I'll be posting a story shortly about the argument/discussion from last night's meeting.

Long lines on Election Day are an opportunity to reflect on the meaning and importance of democracy and the long struggle to achieve voting rights for all of our citizens -- those who aren't landowners, people of color, women. They are an opportunity to consider the process that immigrants go through to become U.S. citizens. They are a chance to read or re-read the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, or your favorite prose or poetry about liberty or any other subject. Talk to your neighbors, take along a snack or purchase one from the school bake sale or Save A Pet table, and think about the people around the world who still cannot vote in elections. Enjoy the day. The right to vote is worth waiting for.

I agree Carol, there's just something about going to your local school or fire station on election day. And as mentioned, the bake sales! At the last election I learned that thousands of dollars have been raised for Scholarships just from bake sales. It's nice to see our local police officers, teachers, other officials. I dont think people mind standing in line getting caught up on all the local gossip. We all work hard and it's nice to do something together even if we disagree on who we're voting for.

I didn't read all of Carol's comment. Although I agree it's nice to see our neighbors and they don't mind standing in line, I'm tired of them pushing this absenee ballot stuff. The bigger picture is we need more than one place to vote at least for the Presidential election. I mean really, once every 4 years. Are we really asking for much?

The problem is we went from 4 or 5 polling places down to one and I know several people that will not vote at the high school because it's too hectic to get in & out. The only people that like one poll, work for the town. We have money for a new senior center, animal shelter and firestations but not enough for another polling location?

The town should provide assistance in the high school parking lot for voters during busy periods, directing them to parking spots as they open up. It is difficult when you enter the parking lot, driving through looking for any open spot, while watching for pedestrians walking to and from their cars. They do that at large festivals, venues, etc. Depending on the weather, I may actually walk there because I had such a tough time last time getting a parking spot. I don't mind one polling location but I do mind the parking issue, especially for seniors and those who cannot walk far.

The one polling place is difficult for those in the north end. Would it cost more I wonder to have parking attendants or to open another polling place, Maybe Akin school.

Once every 4 years might make sense. But to have additional polling places for town elections and primaries is absurd -- so few people vote. The problem is changing back and forth and confusing people. We do that already with having town elections on Mondays and state and federal elections on Tuesdays. It would make sense also to push for fewer elections, which would require changes in our Charter and state law -- e.g., the special town election should have been combined with the state primaries, even if a second ballot was required to do so.

Pretty sure the schools adjust their calendars to be closed for the federal elections. Efforts are made to do this for the local elections, but you cannot anticipate when someone will quit and cause a special election.

If travel is that much of an issue the town could always arrange a shuttle from the north or south ends, but to give up your right to vote because you feel it is too far away to cast your ballot is a bit much IMHO. I embrace alternative methods to cast your vote, in this day and age we all should be able to log into a secure account on the town website and vote. We can do it for banking, but not for voting?

For Presidental elections every 4 years I don't see that's it's too much to ask. It benefits all citizens.

Dave: With technology, maybe we can eventually eliminate the town clerk altogether. That position probably costs over 100K!!

With technology, we can eventually eliminate a whole lot of additional American jobs like we did with bank tellers, gas station attendants, and check-out clerks. If we're careful about which jobs we eliminate, maybe we can eliminate the gender wage gap and also the myth of the gender wage gap since there won't be any gender wage gap. The Town Clerk's office does a lot more than just elections.

Carol: I know the office has other responsibilities. However, I bet most of them can be eliminated through technology, consolidation, or by regionalization.

Notice how all the positions you referenced are private sector? Rare in government. And if cuts are necessary, the threat is always directed at the front line municipal workers such as fire fighters, teachers, police etc. It is very difficult and perhaps foolhardy to replace these people with technology. So the political class keeps inventing new ways to squeeze "we the plebeians" so the size AND strength of government can grow. Makes one wonder where they are taking us.

Hurley School should be used as a 2nd polling location. By only having one, the town is sending out the "we don't care if you vote vibe". We the people of the Nort End are only asking for a polling location. I'm in my forties and I can remember a time when the down had street lights and put up Christmas Trees, be a town again!

I find it very interesting that of the 10 surrounding communities (including Seekonk) 7 have 1 voting place, 1 has 2 voting places (No Attleboro), 1 has 3 voting places (Rehoboth), and 1 has 6 voting places (Attleboro) It would seem to me that the trend is toward 1 voting place.
These facts were taken from a story in the Sun Chronicle on Sunday November 4, 2012

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