MA Coronavirus: Towns Begin Postponing Elections, Town Meetings

DANVERS, MA —When Danvers selectmen meet Monday afternoon, they will consider whether to suspend the May 5 town election and the May 18 town meeting by 30 days.

Danvers will not be alone. Since the state gave towns the power to postpone elections during the coronavirus pandemic, 19 have done so already with dozens more expected to do so when they meet this week, according to the Massachusetts Municipal Association. The association is updating its list weekly.

Last week Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill allowing municipalities to reschedule their local elections. Under the bill, the rescheduled elections and town meetings need to be held on or before June 30.

"This was actually a very easy decision for the Select Board," Groton Town Manager Mark Haddad said of his town new, June 9 election date. "Given what is happening with this pandemic, the Select Board has acted swiftly and forcefully in the best interest of our residents and employees."

Some town officials worry that June 30 may be too soon for some voters. Even after Massachusetts lifts its state of emergency, some voters may be wary of gathering at a crowded town meeting hall or polling place.

"There is concern that even after the emergency is lifted, some people will be afraid of large public gatherings for some time," Hamilton Town Manager Joseph Domelowicz said in a MMA release.

Of the towns that have already moved to rescheduled elections and annual town meetings , the rescheduled dates vary widely:

• Southborough moved its March 28 town meeting to April 16, a date that officials noted was "questionable."
• Bourne won't announce a date for its rescheduled, May 4 town meeting until the Massachusetts lifts its state of emergency.
• In a lift of rescheduled elections maintained by the association, Duxbury said it would hold its town election originally scheduled for March 28 on "May 16 (hopefully)."

As of Sunday, there were 4,955 confirmed coronavirus cases in Massachusetts, including 570 in Essex County. To date, 48 people in Massachusetts have died from the virus.

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