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<p>All,</p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.<br>
</p>
<p><b>My question to you all: </b></p>
<p><b>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.</b></p>
<p><b>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.</b></p>
<p>As always, thank you for any information you can provide!</p>
<address>Carolyn Britt, AICP</address>
<address>Ipswich Climate Resiliency Committee</address>
<address>1 Shagbark Woods</address>
<address>Ipswich, MA 01938</address>
978-356-9881
<p></p>
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