Arlington Select Board To Weigh New Polling Places

ARLINGTON, MA — Changes may be coming to Arlington's voting locations ahead of the town election in April.

The Select Board unanimously accepted the Election Modernization Committee's latest report on recommended changes to polling locations at its Jan. 24 meeting and plans to vote on the matter Feb. 7.

Town Clerk Juli Brazile, herself a member of the committee, presented the recommendations, which were based on the 2020 town survey. Brazile said the bulk of complaints pertained to crowding and lack of parking at the Peirce School and crowding at the Bishop School.

The committee proposed using the Gibbs School and Arlington High School as new locations, an idea supported by Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth Homan, Brazile said. The schools are also on Massachusetts Avenue, which makes them more accessible than Peirce and Bishop, she added.

"Since the election in April is on a Saturday, it gives us the ability to test things without the complication of the building being used by students and staff," Brazile said.

The proposal would pull Precinct 17 from the Peirce and have it vote at Arlington High School, and discontinue voting at the Bishop School. Precinct 9, which votes at the Bishop, would be relocated to Arlington High School as well. Precinct 11, also currently located at the Bishop, would move to the Stratton School.

Precincts 6 and 7 would be relocated to the Gibbs from their current locations at the Hardy and Town Hall, respectively.

Some concerns were raised about ongoing construction at Arlington High School. Brazile said the superintendent believes the idea is "workable, despite the inconvenience of having it be a construction site."

Other considerations from the EMC include developing a parking plan with short-term signage for each location, ensuring smoother voting on Election Day.

Brazile encouraged residents, elected officials and school leaders to reach out to her at jbrazile@town.arlington.ma.us with questions and feedback. She also shared some alternative plans if the high school is determined to not be feasible.