Question: Can a Massachusetts town pass a bylaw requiring hand counted

[paineinthearse]

...paper ballots?

I notice that Massachusetts communities have three systems: paper ballots, Optech Eagle & Accu-Vote - see http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleclk/clkidx.htm

I presume the Secretary of State must certify the e-voting systems before a municipality can use one or another.

But in the absence of a bylaw or ordinance, I presume the town or city clerk decides which system to use (we have no county government). What's to prevent me from starting a citizens' petition to place on the annual town meeting warrant an article that would require my town to use hand-counted paper ballots?

:shrug:

[MADem]

1. I'd start by calling your local town hall, and doing a bit of checking

It might have been a ballot question years back, and the townsfolk voted on it. I note you have a town meeting system of government--it might have been decided in that forum as well. Or it could be, if you have elected selectmen, that they made the decision. Start by finding out how the decision was taken. Someone in the clerk's office could probably give this info to you, or if they are clueless, get thee to the local library or town hall and check the by-laws. They might even have them on line, if they are fancy-shmancy.

Accu-vote isn't bad, because you have a paper backup. It's like a standardized test, where you fill in the oval with a number two pencil. If you haven't filled it in properly, the machine kicks it back out. And the paper ballot itself, with the marked ovals is the back-up....

But hey, you can put anything on the ballot, providing you have enough signatures and you follow the particular by-laws of the town. Make sure they don't require that you make it an agenda issue at town meeting (where the town meeting attendees vote to put it on the ballot, on top of you having to get the signatures) and you have to submit the agenda items in writing ahead of the meeting.

Some towns are run better than others--in some places, it's a couple of hundred clowns taking decisions for everyone. I personally HATE town meeting forms of government--they don't consider people who have to work nights, or work late, or can't find a reliable babysitter...they're fine for small towns, but when your town grows to many thousands of people, it really is not a representative form of government. And the process is INTERMINABLE, it just doesn't suit my style at all. It's more a clique...but that's just my take on it.

[pinto]

2. I think it's worth a try, but as mentioned, check with the town clerk.

Might save you some leg work on the issues (bureaucratic) involved.