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Date: 8/9/2023
CHICOPEE — The City Council voted, 12-0, to keep the mail-in ballot option for the upcoming September primary and November general election, despite objections by the City Clerk and Register of Voters.
During the council’s Aug. 2 regular session, councilors overwhelmingly supported not opting out of early voting for the 2023 election season. Under Massachusetts General Law (54 Section 25B), a municipality may opt out of mail-in voting.
However, City Clerk Keith Rattell and Register of Voters Barbara Galindo opted out of early, in-person voting, citing costs and low turnout in nonpresidential election years.
At the Aug. 1 Finance Committee meeting, Rattell stated the last round of early voting at City Hall only drew 7-8 voters daily, a drain on staff and resources. The City Council lacks the legal authority to opt in or out of early, in-person voting.
The Register of Voters’ website contains:
Municipal elections typically draw a lower turnout, unlike state and national ballots. The city of Holyoke will not hold early, in-person voting in September or November.
Ward 9 Councilor Mary Beth Pniak-Costello said some residents were disappointed that early in-person voting was not an option in 2023, stating that casting a ballot was “priceless.”
Though the council’s order was written in a negative format, a yes vote maintained mail-in voting, and a no vote had the city opting out. The city’s Law Department advised the council to withdraw the motion and let the order stand.
The order stood as written.
Ward 3 Councilor Delmarina López, who also supported early voting, said, “As a citizen, we should have every opportunity possible for people to exercise their right to vote. We can’t put a price on democracy. I’m completely, adamantly against us opting out of early in-person voting.”
While López opposed the move, again, the decision rested with the City Clerk and Register of Voters. However, the council holds authority over mail-in ballots.
“We heard from many residents that they take advantage of not just mail-in voting but also the early, in-person voting,” López said. “If one resident uses it, it’s well worth our dollars, and it’s way more than one person using it.”
She added that nixing early, in-person voting was a “crime on democracy,” but at least the mail-in option allowed residents to vote at home.
In the Finance Committee meeting, Rattell added that mail-in ballots in the 2020 presidential race were a popular choice among voters.
Ward 7 Councilor William Courchene hoped that mail-in ballots would aid residents who would have chosen the early in-person option. “Anyone disenfranchised by not coming in early can utilize the mail-in part. It’s important that we keep it so we can cover the bases for everyone who prefers mail-in votes,” he said.
After the vote, Council President Frank N. Laflamme stressed that Rattell’s role was to educate the council and the public about the three voting methods available to residents and the associated costs.