I agree...it's not why we can't, it's how we can! Go for it! On Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 8:14 AM ٍSarah Postlethwait <sa...@bayhas.com> wrote:
> Jim- > Thanks so much for taking the lead on revamping Lincoln’s town meeting > process. It’s truly appreciated! > > Sarah Postlethwait > > On Mon, Dec 18, 2023 at 7:25 AM Jim Hutchinson <jmhut...@hotmail.com> > wrote: > >> Hi to all those interested in voting technology and process, >> >> >> >> We’ll be discussing these sorts of issues at tonight’s Select Board >> meeting, reviewing the Town Clerk’s proposal for “clickers” that >> electronically tabulate town meeting votes, as well as having a preliminary >> discussion of other possible meeting/process improvements. We’ll briefly >> review changes that we’ve tried in the past, ideas other towns have tried >> or are thinking about such as remote voting, suggestions we’ve heard from >> you, and what state law says about all this, as we think about whether and >> how we should go about such changes. >> >> >> >> Our meeting starts at 6:30pm tonight, although I’ll warn you there are a >> few things on our agenda before the above topic. See agenda here >> <https://www.lincolntown.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12182023-5384> >> and zoom link below, and note this discussion will be during the “Special >> Town Meeting Reflections” item, which we may pull forward to just before >> the public comment period. >> >> >> >> If you can’t make tonight’s meeting, feel free to reach out to me >> directly on this topic, especially if you’re inclined to help investigate >> or push forward an initiative! >> >> >> >> -jim >> >> >> >> Topic: Lincoln Select Board Meeting >> >> Time: December 18, 2023, 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) >> >> Join Zoom Meeting >> >> https://zoom.us/j/91832375325?pwd=aXRpdnlJWHJINnZzd0xOQW9ZTjIvdz09 >> >> >> >> *Meeting ID: 918 3237 5325* >> >> *Passcode: 378902* >> >> >> >> >> >> *From:* Lincoln <lincoln-boun...@lincolntalk.org> *On Behalf Of *Fil >> Zembowicz >> *Sent:* Tuesday, December 12, 2023 9:28 PM >> *To:* Robert Ahlert <robahl...@gmail.com> >> *Cc:* Lincoln Talk <lincoln@lincolntalk.org> >> *Subject:* Re: [LincolnTalk] Wow 800 Lincoln folk vote at STM >> >> >> >> As a 30-something (I guess under-represented?) software developer >> (over-represented?) in town, I found the inefficiency of the mechanics of >> the tallying process the frustrating part of the meeting. >> >> >> >> Hearing the presentations and public comments is amazing and something I >> find very valuable. Sitting around waiting for addition to happen manually >> is another matter... >> >> >> >> It's 2023 ... we could trivially have a system whereby each voter >> attending the meeting (or not?) is given a unique link via text message or >> email at which they can input their vote (once) on their phone, while >> providing summary statistics to the moderator in real time. I can't imagine >> this is a new idea, there are surely vendors that provide this service to >> numerous states and municipalities. This is not a "hard problem", it would >> take a weekend to build a simple version of this. I would be happy to >> advise on / help implement such a thing if there is motivation to do so. >> >> >> >> Fil >> >> 16 Minebrook Rd >> >> >> >> On Tue, Dec 12, 2023 at 9:19 PM Robert Ahlert <robahl...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> Town meeting is special, a chance to discuss and decide on issues. The >> camaraderie is cathartic after intense pre-election debating. >> >> >> >> However, when it comes time to vote, i think emotion should not play a >> role and therefore I prefer electronic voting. I trust my fellow residents >> to do their homework and come prepared to cast a ballot. >> >> >> >> Rob Ahlert >> >> 185 Lincoln Road >> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/185+Lincoln+Road?entry=gmail&source=g> >> >> *Robert Ahlert* | *781.738.1069* | robahl...@gmail.com >> >> >> >> >> >> On Tue, Dec 12, 2023 at 9:00 PM Laura Crosby <lauracros...@comcast.net> >> wrote: >> >> I’m 100% in agreement in purchasing >> >> electronic voting devices. Valerie >> >> Fox is also in agreement. >> >> We lost close to two hours >> >> at the recent Special Town >> >> Meeting waiting for votes to be >> >> counted. >> >> Many left after first vote due >> >> to timing issues. >> >> >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> >> >> On Dec 12, 2023, at 6:47 PM, Scott Clary <scottclar...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> Peter and Andy, >> >> >> >> Thank you for detailing a plan for revampment of our voting system that >> makes so much sense. It really is a no-brainer. And the percentages broken >> down by age that Peter provided are quite telling. >> >> >> >> Kind Regards, >> >> Scott Clary >> 617-968-5769 >> >> Sent from a mobile device - please excuse typos and errors >> >> >> >> On Tue, Dec 12, 2023, 6:17 PM Peter Buchthal <pbucht...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> A town meeting is an all day plus affair which disenfranchises many >> younger voters with families and other voters who are unable to attend all >> day meetings. >> >> >> >> At our last special town meeting in early December we had 878 voters >> check-in with the following distribution of voters by age. >> >> *18-29* >> >> *30-39* >> >> *40-49* >> >> *50-59* >> >> *60-69* >> >> *70-79* >> >> *80+* >> >> 2% >> >> 5% >> >> 14% >> >> 16% >> >> 23% >> >> 24% >> >> 16% >> >> >> >> With only 640ish cast ballots for preference votes for the Community >> Center and HCA rezoning, we lost 16/% of our checked-in voters as many >> didn't stay to participate in both important votes. Please note that only >> 21% of the vote is 49 or under. >> >> >> >> >> >> With a poor representation of our younger residents, We need to revamp >> our Town Meetings to better engage our 4876 registered voters. Certain >> votes require 2/3 of a town meeting and with such poor voter turnout, the >> power of a few well organized groups can dominate the decisions of the town >> unjustly. >> >> >> >> I propose >> >> 1) The town should purchase electronic voting devices to speed up all >> town meetings. At least 60 towns in the commonwealth already successfully >> use these devices. I bet we could save at least a couple of hours at each >> town meeting by using this proven technology. List of Mass Towns >> <https://www.meridiaars.com/electronic-voting-system-in-massachusetts-towns/> >> >> >> >> >> >> 2) We should explore Andy Wang's earlier suggestion of separating the >> debate/amend parts of a Town Meeting from the voting part. The town should >> create a working group to explore the many different ways to increase voter >> participation at Town Meetings. Maybe we can even get this new style of >> Town Meeting ready for our March meeting. >> >> >> Many towns like Concord have town meetings that last several days and >> have even poorer voter participation than ours Concord Town Meeting >> Participation >> <https://concordma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/43398/TOWN-MEETING-VOTER-PARTICIPATION-1997-2023>. >> The working group should explore separating the time consuming parts of a >> Town Meeting from the voting part. The first day of the Town Meeting >> could work through, amend and debate all contentious warrants up to an >> actual vote. At a certain point when a warrant is ready to vote, the >> moderator should table the vote until the continuation of the 2nd day of >> the town meeting. Information about the 1st day's work will be posted >> online with a video that voters would be able to review. The 2nd day of >> only voting would be a couple of days after the first and begin at a set >> time and be finished hopefully after only spending a couple of minutes per >> vote if the Town purchases electronic voting devices. >> >> >> >> Peter Buchthal >> >> Weston Rd >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Tue, Dec 12, 2023 at 9:01 AM Andy Wang <andyrw...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> As of March, according to the election results. >> >> <29AFF794-562A-4589-B5F3-D20DB548516B.png> >> >> >> >> Andy >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Tue, Dec 12, 2023 at 8:36 AM Garrick Niemiec < >> garrickniemiec...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >> On Mon, Dec 11, 2023, 9:52 PM Garrick Niemiec < >> garrickniemiec...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> 5000 voters are on record >> >> >> >> On Mon, Dec 11, 2023, 9:36 PM Barbara Low <barbara_...@hotmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> I thought there were about 5000 residents, not voters. >> >> Does anyone know the actual number of voters? >> >> >> >> Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device >> Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> >> ------------------------------ >> >> *From:* Lincoln <lincoln-boun...@lincolntalk.org> on behalf of Sara >> Mattes <samat...@gmail.com> >> *Sent:* Monday, December 11, 2023 8:22:46 PM >> *To:* Garrick Niemiec <garrickniemiec...@gmail.com> >> *Cc:* Lincoln Talk <lincoln@lincolntalk.org> >> *Subject:* Re: [LincolnTalk] Wow 800 Lincoln folk vote at STM >> >> >> >> Most towns do NOT do this. >> >> Laws which govern Open Town Meeting towns are the determining factors. >> >> Perhaps all who want to come up with some new concepts should get >> together, like LRHA, and research and propose to the town. >> >> That would be really instructive and constructive. >> >> >> >> March will have a ballot, in addition to the TM vote -to approve the $$ >> for the Community Center. >> >> One could skip TM and simply vote at the ballot box the following Monday. >> >> >> >> Again, I urge all who are interested in this issue to form a study group >> and see what options are available. >> >> >> >> >> >> ------ >> Sara Mattes >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Dec 11, 2023, at 8:09 PM, Garrick Niemiec <garrickniemiec...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> I couldn't disagree more...we need to make voting accessable...time for >> change Sara.. time for change now. Let us vote electronically...all of us >> remotely. C'mon most towns do it now. >> >> >> >> New comers including my family all recognize this! >> >> >> >> The system is sooo antiquated. >> >> >> >> Join us now before the march town meeting fails us again! Again and >> again and again! >> >> >> >> As a good friend said at STM we are not spending our money wisely! You >> know that...a school project for 30M turns into 100 M. Driven by current >> Lincoln politics including selects. Yikes! >> >> >> >> Now RLF is bankrupt? What's going on here. We're in a tailspin. Any >> ideas? >> >> >> >> On Mon, Dec 11, 2023, 6:53 PM Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Garrick, >> >> Town Meeting is open to all who care enough to attend. >> >> It not a drive-by! >> >> When people make noise about wanting a secret ballot at a ballot box, >> there is no evidence that indicates a huge leap in participation! >> >> I don’t like the way thing unfolded or the (predictable) outcome, but it >> was not because voting was not available tall. >> >> >> >> >> >> ------ >> Sara Mattes >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Dec 11, 2023, at 5:53 PM, Garrick Niemiec <garrickniemiec...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> 5000 are registered voters...this is NOT the Lincoln way!!! >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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