Brookline Moves 4 Polling Places Ahead Of June Election

BROOKLINE, MA — Three polling places for four precincts have been changed for those planning to go in person to vote in local elections in June.

Townwide elections and Town Meeting both originally scheduled for May have been postponed until June as the state grapples with the coronavirus public health emergency. This week, in an effort to keep poll workers and voters safe, the town approved that recommendation.

"Given the limited size of some of our polling locations we believe it is better to 'spread' the voters throughout the town to maintain the 6-foot separation from each other and to separate voters from the poll workers," said Assistant Town Clerk Linda Golburgh in a memo to the town administrator this week.

The clerk's office recommended that those who vote at the Brookline Housing Authority buildings and the fire station on Hammond Street, which have been the polling places for Precinct 3, 7, 10 and 15 be relocated to bigger spaces that allow more easily for social distancing.

The clerk's office is planning to provide the workers with shields, masks, gloves, sanitizer and other safety features as protection both inside and outside the polling place.

Because schools are not in session, the clerk's office was able to make the change. In the event schools do not open before Sept. 1, the temporary change will continue for the State Primary on that day. The town may have to come up with other polling locations, according to Golburgh.

Polling changes:

Precinct 3 - The Theresa Morse Apartments at 90 Longwood Avenue to the Coolidge
Corner School (Stedman Street Entrance) which currently serves as Precinct #8.
Precinct 7 - The Arthur A. O’Shea House at 61 Park Street to the Brookline High
School Gym at 115 Greenough Street which currently serves as Precinct #6.
Precinct 10 - The John W. Kickham Apartments at 190 Harvard Street to the Brookline
High School Gym at 115 Greenough Street which currently serves as Precinct #6.
Precinct 15 - Fire Station #6 at 962 Hammond Street to the Baker School at 205
Beverly Road, lower level cafeteria.
We make these recommendations to protect the safety of residents, workers, and
voters.

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Brookline Town Elections, Town Meeting Postponed To June ...

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).