[Massplanners] Did anyone else have a Question 6 on their ballot in November?

[Carolyn Britt]

All,

We in Ipswich had a concerning issue with our voting at town meeting 
(10/22/24),  and with voting on the associated questions required on the 
ballot for the election (11/5/24). I am asking you all as I don't have 
access to the Clerks' Listserve.

We had a question that required a debt exclusion to work with an energy 
services company to make a number of energy improvements in a variety of 
public buildings that would, over time largely pay for themselves. But 
they required borrowing up front. This appeared on the Town Meeting 
warrant as Article 7 and on the ballot as Question 6 - after the 5 
statewide questions.

Article 7 received the required 2/3 vote at Town Meeting. At that point 
early voting had already begun on the 11/5 ballot. The Town Clerk 
insisted that no information of any sort other than the ballot could be 
present in the voting place. Despite a very active citizen effort to 
inform voters (letters to the editor, 2 ads in the paper, leafletting in 
front of the post office), Question 6 lost on the ballot with about 20% 
of the voters abstaining because they did not understand what this 
question was about.

When I asked the Town Clerk what she did when people asked her about 
Question 6, she said that she told them what it was. We don't know what 
she told them, and it could have varied for each person. This is a very 
unsatisfying and frustrating outcome.

*My question to you all: *

*I was told by the Secretary of State's Office that some towns on the 
Cape had an additional question on the State ballot. I would appreciate 
speaking with the Town Clerk in your community if you had a local 
question on the State ballot - whether you were on the Cape or anywhere 
else.*

*Please let me know if you town had a local question on the 
state/federal ballot so I can speak with your Town Clerk regarding how 
this was handled in your community.*

As always, thank you for any information you can provide!

Carolyn Britt, AICP

Ipswich Climate Resiliency Committee

1 Shagbark Woods

Ipswich, MA 01938

978-356-9881
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