8.21.2025 Board of Election Commissioners

All righty.

All right.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the meeting of the board of election commissioners.

It is August 21st in the city council hearing room. Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unperceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. Commissioners, good

afternoon and welcome. It's good to see you. Going to do a roll call attendance.

Commissioner Campos, present.

Commissioner Gibney, present.

Commissioner Santos, present.

And Chamberlines is present. First and foremost, I would like to welcome Commissioner Kathy Gibney to her first meeting of the board of election commissioners. She was recently appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. So, welcome aboard to the election commission.

Okay. So you have your meeting agendas for um this meeting. I put together a couple of notes for you for review for this session today. A couple of things I wanted to talk about. As you know, at the beginning of the year, we conducted the annual municipal census as required by statute. We sent out approximately I want to say individual forms probably about 90,000 altogether to 48,000

households in the city of Fall River. I contracted with Universal Wild and I have the breakdown of the printing cost as well as the cost for postage which was about on par for the past 10 years or so for the cost of conducting the municipal census for a city the size of Fall River. Unfortunately, the negative side to this as you all well know when it comes to registered voters who do not

respond to the annual municipal census, they end up as the former precinct clerks know on the inactive voters list.

and we have just over 26,000 registered voters on the enacted voters list for the calendar year 2025. So I followed up with a confirmation mailing to those registered voters. Um so far we received only about 5,000 back if that probably just a little bit under 5,000 in total.

So those voters if they go to the polls hopefully that is going to be the case in the upcoming 2025 preliminary election. if not the municipal election, they will have to present a valid identification to the precinct warden and complete, as you all know, an affirmation of residency before they're allowed to cast a ballot. It's I had this conversation with a couple of my colleagues from New Bedford, from Lel um

from T and Lel especially, they have 72,000 registered voters and I had a conversation with Director Rosenberry.

He had 46,000 cards that he had to send out. So regrettably, it's more than half for some other communities with the number of the inactive registered voters they have on their list. So it's not only Fall River that has had this problem for a number of years. And I um had a further conversation. Actually, Secretaries Galvin's office had reached out to a number of the gateway cities.

They're trying to find a more proactive approach. I think we're trying to appropriate money to the cities and towns or have the legislature appropriate money to the cities and towns to help the local election official. try to find some way to reach out to voters to best um expedite the census process at the beginning of the year because we've been dealing with this problem year after year after year

and the number for the city of Fall River has always hovered around 20 to 25,000 voters that have to end up on the inactive voters list and receive a second mailing and if you've ever worked um you know especially a bianial state election with the presidential race which I think both of you have in the past I mean the line of people waiting to complete an affirmation of residency

before they're allowed to cast a ballot is out the door itself and then turn around having to wait to get a ballot after that is just it makes for a relatively grueling task. So unfortunately and it's been conducted by direct mail as you know for the past 50 years. Previous to that it was conducted doortodoor by police and those census records are almost 100% accurate for the city up until 1975 when the chairman

converted it to direct mailing at that point. Um, so again, I try to remind the public again all the time because I get records requests almost on a weekly basis for people trying to verify residency. The municipal census is the only document that confirms your residency in the city of Fall River or in Massachusetts for that matter in which I can only certify your residency once you return your census form and

make it part of the official record. So those record requests come in almost on a weekly basis to my office. So, it's so critically important as I remind the public again and again through press releases, through conversations with local access media um to return your census form as of as on a yearly basis to make it kind of part of the extension of what I call the eth sacrament in

addition to voting to please make sure you comply with that. There's plenty of time to do so. The census is sent out by the end of January, if not by February 1st by our vendor. So, and there's plenty of time and the enacted voters list is not compiled until the first Monday in June. So there's plenty of time for the general public to respond to the annual census. So hopefully, again, I'm always optimistic, always

saying a few extra rosaries every year at the start of every calendar year that people will respond to that. So we will definitely head into another calendar year um at the beginning of 2026 and hopefully again those numbers will again improve. But as of right now, as it stands, we have, you know, 26,000 registered voters. The numbers have come down a little bit with people responding

to their confirmation of residency card.

Um, and if you have any conversations with the general public along the way, please remind them of that. Um, ask people to just confirm. Um, one, if they are in fact a registered voter, and two, are you currently on the inactive voters list? If you are, touch base with the elections department. That way, you can return your card. If not, we'll send you a census form in the mail because we

want to get you in and out of the polling uh, the polling precincts as quickly as possible, as you know, from having worked previous elections.

Okay. So, as of today, heading into the stats for the upcoming election, I do include, I think often a couple of times, I do have the information sheet um attached to your packets as well as on the department website about the history and the procedures about conducting the annual municipal census.

So, I always try to refer people as well as yourselves to the department website because I have really modernized it, updated it with a ton of information. So definitely refer people to go there if they're looking for any information in regards from start to finish in regarding regards to election administration from the census to early voting early voting in person by mail um anything regard campaign finance for uh

is another uh good example I have all the reports posted there on a yearly basis so please refer anyone that you know to the department website for any information regards to elections um so as of today the city has 59,642 registered voters I have the breakdown by precinct and by political affiliation. The largest uh demographic for that in terms of political affiliation remains unenrolled voters

followed by democratic registration and uh followed by Republicans after that.

Now we do have uh people who are affiliated with the number of designations following the 2024 bianial state election. The Libertarian Party lost their ballot status. They have now been converted to regular political designation. So, those voters heading into the 2026 state elections will be considered unenrolled and allowed to choose the primary ballot of their choosing. It's going to only be the

Democratic primary ballot and the Republican primary ballot heading into 2026, just so you know. Okay.

But heading for this year, the preliminary election, as you know by now, is going to be held on Tuesday, September 16th, followed by the municipal election on November 4th. I have the breakdown of the candidates in your packet. For the preliminary election, we have five candidates who duly filed for the office of mayor and voters um during the preliminary election will be nominating two

candidates to advance on to the bianial municipal election. And of course, all polling precincts, all 27 polling precincts will be open from 7:00 a.m.

until 8:00 p.m. on election day for both elections.

And the great thing now, thanks to the votes act, early voting by mail is an option accessible to every registered voter. Um, and when you opened up your municipal census envelope at the beginning of the year, you saw the um, early vote by mail application, which I included um, for every voter to take advantage of because the great thing that we know that we have for state elections, um, the secretary's office is

required by law to send every registered voter the vote by mail application, the cards that we receive prior to every state election. So, to make the option consistent from state election to municipal election year, I like to include the multi-roster vote by mail application with the census mailing. And the great thing about that, you know, voters absolutely love to have that as

an option. And right now, we're looking at 4,700 voters who have already applied for a mail-in ballot for just the preliminary preliminary and municipal election. And I definitely expect that those numbers will increase heading into November's election as people continue to have conversations about the upcoming u municipal election. So, I would anticipate probably maybe between 55 and

6,000 voter 5,500 and 6,000 voters will be applying for a mail and ballot heading into November's municipal election. and again continue to have conversations with the general public and I have the application readily available on the department website and of course they can apply directly through Secretary Galvin's online portal and I have the website link um on the department website and in your c in your

your um packet as well. Um the voter registration deadline um just to remind you was um moved back from 20 days to 10 days prior to election day. I will have special voter registration hours um in my office from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm um on the the 10th day prior to um election day. And I do have a copy um for everyone of the 2025 municipal election calendar in there for you. But the voter

registration deadline, just to remind you, and the general public, for the preliminary election, it's going to be Saturday, September 6th by 5:00 p.m. All registrations must be received by the local election official by 5:00 p.m. on that day. And for the municipal election, it's going to be Saturday, October 25th by 5:00 p.m. as well. And again, there will be special registration hours in the elections

department um from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on that day. So, please let people know about that. There is so many ways to be able to become a registered voter um within the city during that time as well as applying for um an early voting by mail ballot or absentee ballot for both elections.

So, I have a quick question. I didn't mean to interrupt.

No, I was going to ask any questions. Um so circling back to um the independent voters um so they're they're classified as unenrolled unrolled. Yes.

Um but it when they go to the primary and they select which ballot they want, does that automatically enroll them?

It does not. That's a great question. It you remain unenrolled but you'll have the option when you go to the check-in table or applying for an early vote by mail ballot to request which primary ballot you would like. And heading into 2026, it's going to be two options either Democrat or Republican. But it does not change your affiliation. So they can they'll have the so if they let's say in in the um the primary they

choose a Democratic ballot they can then choose a Republican in like they're not locked in.

No no no it does not change your affiliation. You remain unrolled but you have the freedom of choice to choose either the Republican or the Democratic primary ballot for that particular primary.

And it's only going to be the one primary for the state primary next September.

Okay.

So that's actually a very common question that people do call. I've had it asked a couple times.

Um, actually, believe it or not, heading into last year's presidential primary, there were so many voters who because up until I think it was 2008 when the legislature had made the change um, in regards to independent voters going from independent to unenrolled and they were still having to rush to the elections department to change their affiliation because you had to be registered with a

political party to be able to cast a ballot in that party's primary. Now, the great thing about being unenrolled is you no longer have to do that. remain unenrolled with the freedom to choose which party's ball you would like to select for the state or the presidential primary. So much easier this time. I think voters are still kind of confused by the designation unenrolled. It kind of feels like, well, I've been

registered since I was since I was 18 years old. I'm like, no, no, that is just a term for being unaffiliated, which I think would be a little bit easier for the general public to understand, but that would be a decision for the legislature in the future to make if they decided to do so. But you remain unenrolled, also known as it's formerly independent in Massachusetts.

And you get to choose which party value you like for a primary. And of course, for municipal elections, it's all nonpartisan. And I always like to rem remind the general public you kind of the freedom of choosing of any candidate you would like regardless of political affiliation. I do include by kind of popular demand because a lot of voters do ask the question about the candidates's political affiliation on uh

the breakdown of the candidates who are running for this year's office for mayor, city council, and school committee. just because it is a very common request. But uh the general laws do prohibit um any kind of political designation from being printed on a municipal election ballot. So that can never be done because they've been asked that question or the office receives calls about that um almost on a yearly

basis when in regards to municipal election ballots, but cannot be printed at all. Um so again, voter registration forms and the vote by mail applications are readily available from my department. Voters can contact the office. We can mail it to them. they can scan scan it right back to me via email electronically. Um you can apply directly through the secretar's online portal. It's forwarded directly back to

my office and of course you know through the mail approach is not a problem as well and of course drop them directly directly back to the department office as well. Um so it's very easy to become a registered voter to apply for a mail and ballot and really get involved in this process. the one thing and especially at the start of the beginning of the year really trying to encourage

people to get involved in this process one way or the other to run for office to find a candidate or cause that you really believe in and of course most importantly get involved with the eighth sacrament which I talk about a lot at good sheeperd especially a lot at church I kind of coined that phrase growing up in an old Irish Catholic household that's you know it is basically you know

religiously attending mass on Sunday and voting like a sacrament on Tuesday so I think the public loves when I always talk about that during my interviews with local access. So, so critically important to make sure that you have your voices heard in every single election and to remember that the local elections, our municipal elections are critically important to the city's future, to stay informed about the

issues and to vote um because it critically is important for the city's future. So, um any questions about anything? I know there was a lot in a nutshell from STEM to Stern from census through elections and hopefully again I'm always asked about the predictions for a voter turnout. I have no idea what they're going to be and hopefully I'm always wrong but hopefully it's going to be a lot more than the low teens as it

was. I think from 2000 based upon precedent looking back at 2020 uh 2023 in particular um we were in the teens and I'm really hoping that's not going to be the case heading into this year's preliminary and municipal election. So definitely kind of bang the drums and drag people to the polls. And also to remind you, I do offer rides to the polls. I have the driver from the Veterans Office. I have the bus from the

Council on Aging. So we offer transportation to voters to and from polling precincts the entire day on elections. Um in particular from the highrises that were consolidated to other polling precincts at the end at the beginning of 2024 and at a couple of inquiries last year from Florida Healthcare, for example. So, I I let the directors know if anybody wants transportation to and from their from

their home, from a senior center. Please contact, you know, the elections department. We're more than happy to provide transportation. And the driver loves to stay busy on election day. So, please let people know about that. We are more than happy to provide transportation um to the public to get them to and from their polling precinct on election day, both for September and November. So, we want to make sure

people get out there and vote one way or the other. Um, so we're set and ready to go when it comes to setting up the precincts on election day. And again, I just want to see lines wrapped around the building like it was last November.

And everything went so dramatically well last year, especially in regards to the consolidations that we made at the beginning of 2024 as a commission. Um, there was not one, for the first time ever in my tenure, uh, there was not one complaint coming into my office in regards to people not being able to park their cars from BCC to St. Anony's Church to Good Sheeperd Parish. Finally,

we're offering people spaces to park their car in peace to get into the polling precincts, cast their ballot, and leave with little obstruction as possible. So, I was waiting for November 2024 with the bigger election and the vote, the turnout was just over 50%. And we were kind of waiting for the phone calls to come in to see what it was going to be like, any issues, any concerns regards to the to the lack of

parking. Not one complaint. Everything went very well. I rent two eight passenger golf carts for BCC and I was up there late in the afternoon and early evening. Um, and it was running like Penn Station. I mean, it was incredible.

The traffic was phenomenal. They love having us there. Excuse me. They love having us there. Um, so it was just incredible to kind of see everything kind of go back and forth and run very smoothly on election day. And I was at Good Shepard earlier in the morning. I was making my rounds at St. Anony's. I mean, everything was going phenomenally well, particularly at the locations that

we had consolidated for um prior to the 2024 presidential primary. So, I was very, very happy, very relieved, and we're going to see how it goes um into 2025 and beyond.

That's great.

So, any questions about anything, commissioners, that I can clarify or help you with and any issues about anything?

The only issue I encountered last year was when I did visit the polls, I got some negative feedback from some of them. Okay, that's to why I was there. This has happened before. You mean visiting the poll?

Visiting.

Yes. Hence the reason, Commissioner Santos, why I made these for all of you.

And I had my I'm sorry not to cut you off. I'm so sorry. That's fine.

But I had my orientation with my pole workers um last week. Commissioner Gibney was present. I introduced her to everyone because I think you've all made your rounds and met the precinct wardens and clerks the past couple of years. But I made them all aware. Again, you know, they do answer to you. It's not the other way around. And again, I invite all of you to please visit the polling

precincts every election to have conversations with the warden and the clerks to see how everything is going.

You can see anything you want at the polls on election day. And I don't want anybody calling me in a panic saying, "Oh my god, who is this woman coming in here touching the clerk's book and asking me questions?" Well, they're a commissioner, so they're certainly entitled to do that. And if they want to have conversations with you or any pole worker, I certainly want you to do that

because I want every commissioner to see the election experience up close and personal and have conversations with the wardens, the clerks, to see how everything is operating hopefully in peace on election day. And that's one of the reasons why I made you the pin so they know exactly who you are as a member of the board of election commissioners. And if there's any issues with yelling or anything, I want you to

tell me right away so I can rectify it.

But you should run into that problem.

there's an if there's an issue, can we help address it?

Of course you can. Absolutely. And especially in your case, having served as, you know, my precinct clerks for the past number of election cycles, I've already mentioned to them. The great thing about that is you kind of know exactly what the wardens and clerks are dealing with on on an every election cycle. So, if you have the answer to the question, please by all means offer the

assistance to them. And if not, get me on the phone right away because I have sat in while they're, you know, short staff cuz somebody's at lunch doing the unvalid ones. And that precinct was very accommodating because it's where I was in the past.

should have gotten you like a police escort I think.

No, no, I had mentioned or at least like a stun gun or something it sounds like. But no, I had that conversation with that particular precinct board because I don't think she had met you before when you're making the rounds for your first election. And um I just reminded everybody during orientation again I invite the commissioners. I encourage them to please visit every precinct during election day and um please be

accommodating and if they offer assistance, please take it and if they have conversations with you, you know, just be welcoming. You know, that's why, you know, you're traveling around and especially having done that experience, that part of the job before with that election experience. I mean, it's a great asset to all of them.

So, we don't divvy up the precincts among us. The three of us will try to hit all of them.

You go to all of them. Please get to know everybody.

So, nobody's going to be offended if all three of us go to No, no. Travel all of them. Say hi to everybody. If you bring them a snack, they'll probably love you forever. Tim has brought them.

Yeah. I went to everyone and I brought a dozen donuts. Whoa.

They were very happy to see me.

So that's probably why they know Tim by name especially because one thing I mentioned to Commissioner Campo was last election cycle that it's good to have something that kind of you know identifies you directly by name and position that as so we are allowed if we wanted to bring like you know a box of Joe or you know you know we can't it's not considered no that's not appropriate.

You're not a candidate for office you're an election commissioner by all means go now.

I don't know if that makes it worse.

Whatever you do, please as long as there's not like a candidates's, you know, bumper sticker on the box of Joey is acceptable to nothing like that.

I wanted to visit my when I saw Florence the other day.

I said, I have to go to the precinct anyway. I'll stop by and I thought about bringing something and I said, "That might be Miss No, they apprec Yeah. No, they appreciate it. They're there. So, you know, having some coffee, donuts or anything? Did you make all of them or do you just kind of go?

So, when I when I first uh got appointed, I went to I made a point to go to everyone and I brought them donuts. I I didn't I haven't done that in the last couple, but um it certainly was a way to precinct. Oh my god. Loaded up the backseat of the car.

Fortunately, we have some family friends who own some Dunkin Donuts, so they were happy to Oh, okay.

It's out now. It's public and I heard it firsthand. So, the expectation too many people because you'll have The expectation is high.

Oh, we already we already do. Um, but that was a nice way to introduce myself.

Um, I'm not You can't do that all the time, but expensive.

Yeah. But certainly, you know, no one had any reservations of me.

It's not an issue if you wanted to bring something. Okay.

No, the only issue was they didn't know me. So, who is this guy coming in with donuts?

Um, so I think this will be a huge help to introduce yourself because they're so busy. They're seeing so many people. You know, they're kind of just glazing over when you come up and say hi.

Food is always a good, you know, thing to bring and people love food.

Yes, they do. And they love Dunkin Donuts.

Everybody does. That's for sure. Okay.

Just another agenda item. Can I just get a motion to approve the uh minutes from the meeting of the board of election commissioners that was held on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2024.

Motion to accept.

Okay. Motion made by Commissioner Campos.

Can I get a second? Second by Commissioner um Sand I'm sorry. Motion was made by Commissioner Campos. Second by Commissioner Santos. I'm going to do a roll call vote. Commissioner Campos.

Okay. Commissioner Gibney.

Yes.

Commissioner Santos.

Yes.

And Chairman Lions is a yes. Okay.

Okay. Fantastic. Just wanted to get that housekeeping item out of the way. Okay.

So, in regards to anything that was kind of on our agenda for today from STEM to in regards to the 2025 census all the way through our election cycle this year, anything at all that I can clarify for you? anything about the public you want to have a conversation about?

Not at all.

Okay.

So, if we as as we go around, if we get any questions from any of the workers, we can write them down and bring them to you if we don't know the answers or would you rather just bring us have bring questions to you and then you answer them. If anybody had a question about Yeah, please by all means, I'll give you a little Senate book if you want to take

it with you just when in doubt if there's a question that you want. And plus, also on election night, I just please encourage all you all of you to please be at election central no later than 7:00 if possible. Um that way we can be together, you know, when the polls close, the intake of all the ballots come back in and the voting equipment and of course for the processing of the election returns and

my wonderful little laptop setup which you both have seen and Commissioner Gibby will see for the first time this election cycle to kind of see both sides of the operation, the processing of the election returns as well as the intake of all of the election equipment that the police return um from the precincts.

Okay. Now, do we report to a government center at early in the morning on election day or do we just start visiting precincts or Oh, it it's your day. You're free to start visiting the precincts whether it's morning, noon or night. I know um in your case probably after work is probably a little bit easier and then whatever time is free for you if you want to start visiting and I'll I've

included a break a complete list of the polling precincts in your packet.

How long does it take you to do all 27 precincts time wise? depends because I spend a little more time at some than others.

Um, but it was it was about a good portion of the day.

Yeah, I was just going to say just traveling for Yeah, it was a lot of that and then there were p uh polling locations where they wanted to chat with me more and some places they didn't. So, and you did that for the primary and the the November.

Well, my first was the presidential election. Um, I think right um I think in 2020 you did the September and the November.

You did both?

Yes. So, I did the rounds and it was it was a lot. I mean, you know, it was I had that custom made cookie as a souvenir for help. I know.

Is there is there a rhyme or reason to um what order you visit them in as far as like getting from place to place?

I I just did it as as my route went around the city really um and trying to deal with traffic at times of the day.

Um it's kind of like my routes first thing in the morning. I try to go as far to the south end as I can turn out barring any, you know, calls I get and then kind of, you know, one into the other. But my day is just, you know, hectic as you can imagine because I start my rounds, you know, 6:30 in the morning, give or take.

And then I touch base with my boards throughout the day and because I have to, you know, see everybody at some point throughout the day and then, you know, just, you know, leisurely pace for all of you. Just I just definitely encourage Yeah, you don't have to. It's not, you know, you can stay longer at some than others. If you don't get to some, don't be stressed out about it. You know, it's

just you're trying to see as many much of it as you can. You have us, too. So, we're kind of all trying to visit at least all of them or most of them. Well, that's why I asked if they're going to get upset if they say two or three at one, you know, or do we just divvy up, you know?

I ran into uh when uh Commissioner Dennis was here, I ran into him at a bunch, you know. So, you kind of overlap a little bit. And if you do, you go and you say hi and you leave because obviously there was a commissioner just in there and certainly if there was any issues they'll may have either addressed it or taken the question out. So, you know, you don't have to commit too much time.

Okay.

Yeah. I wouldn't. And regardless, it's your first election, so it's a great time, no matter what, to go in and say hi to everybody. Yeah. And become acclimated with the team that's working there. A lot of the precinct wardens have been in place for at least five plus years. Everyone has kind of been set in place and especially the inspectors, those checking in voters have been a team of people at these

precincts for a good number of years with a lot of experience. So, it's kind of very nice with the, you know, the face with the name. And I mentioned all of you during orientation. So, at least they can kind of get see everybody again is kind of a nice thing. And and again, if they ask questions and then question who you are, you're armed with the badge now.

Yes.

And I told everybody they're going to be coming in with the badge, with the name, so you're going to know. And um don't be suspicious of them. It's okay. You know, well, they'll be probably more welcome.

That was real. It's Tim's case now.

They're going to definitely demand, you know, like when you'll bring some they first look at you, they think, "Oh, they come in check." That would be most people's reaction that is coming to check and see what we're doing. So I think maybe be a little defensive. Then when they learn you're just there to say hello.

Yeah. Yeah, I mean it depends on who's who you depends on. Some people are much more friendly than others and that's just normal.

Um, so the ones who want you to say, "Oh, nice meeting. See you later."

Pretty much. Do you need anything? Yeah.

Do you need anything? Is everything going okay? Yep. Everything's good. And then off to the next.

Okay.

You know, you can wander around a little if you want to, but you know, they you'll see when you get there. There's some that are very much Yeah. They're very much willing to talk with you and engage with you. And some Let me know if I have to talk to anybody. Most importantly.

Yeah.

Yeah. We're with the eyes, you know.

All righty, commissioners. Um, so any questions about anything before we adjourn for the meeting today?

All righty. Both of you.

Yes.

All right, commissioners. All right, so can I get a motion to adjurnn?

Motion to adjurnn.

Motion to adjurnn made by Commissioner Campos. Can I get a second?

Second.

All right. Second made by Commissioner Gibney. All those in favor? I I Okay, this feels