Town Meeting tries out electronic voting

Oct 29, 2019

Town Meeting sprung into the 21st century as voters made their choices electronically for the first time on Monday night.

Electronic voting has been discussed in town for years, but this was the first time the town was in a financial position to try it out.

As voters signed in, each was given a tiny device resembling a remote control to wear on a lanyard around his or her neck. Although the devices had numerous buttons, voters only needed to use two: one for yes, or two for no.

Moderator Claire Smith opened the meeting by letting people try out the devices by answering a high-stakes question that was not on the warrant: Will the Patriots win the Super Bowl?

The crowd expressed its confidence in the team as 148 people voted that the Pats would win it all, while 32 skeptics voted no.

Throughout the night, people voted quickly, and the electronic system allowed them to do so in private and with certainty about the outcome, as the vote counts showed up instantaneously on screen. The devices also made the time-consuming hand counts that followed close voice votes obsolete. 

Monday night was a free trial from Turning Technologies. In the future, Smith said the town will likely choose to rent the units. Because technology changes so quickly, it doesn’t make sense to buy them. She also hoped the devices would make people more comfortable voting with their conscience and increase turnout.

The only non-electronic vote was at the end of the night when Smith asked those in attendance if they liked voting electronically. The response? A resounding yes.