The Hudson Board of Selectmen approved changing the voting location for both the September state primary election, and November 2024 Presidential Electors Ward 1 voters to Hudson Memorial School during its most recent meeting.
“I come before you tonight to request a change of voting location for Ward 1 for the September and November election,” Hudson Town Moderator, Alanna Stangroom, told the Board of Selectmen.
She explained that the Community Center, which they have used in the past, doesn’t have sufficient parking to handle what is expected to be a large turnout, particularly for the Presidential Election.
Stangroom also noted that the feedback they received from the police department’s after-action report, and from voters, during the January election, confirms their concerns.
“Hudson Memorial would provide better parking options,” she said.
It was also explained by Stangroom that they were looking to use the September primary election more as a test run for the new location.
“We would treat the September election as a test run for the larger November election,” she wrote in a memo to the Board of Selectmen.
Selectman, Kara Roy, asked why they wouldn’t just move it there permanently, saying it can get confusing for people if their voter location changes from election to election.
Town Administrator, Steve Malizia, said they should have both of this year’s elections there, and then look at the issue again sometime after the November election.
School Board member and the liaison for the Board of Selectmen, Gary Gasdia, said they had an election there and said he thinks they can do it again, but noted it will be important to have the logistics figured out in advance.
It was also noted by Stangroom that it is expected that there would be less services used by public works and the police department, if they were to go with the Hudson Memorial School location.
Gasdia agreed saying if they can do it in an organized way then “there’s plenty of parking.”
It was unanimously approved by the Board of Selectmen to change the election locations to Hudson Memorial School for Ward 1 voters in the September and November elections.
The next Board of Selectmen meeting is set for July 23 at 7 p.m.
