Yitts Appointed to Board of Registrar of Voters

At the October 10th Select Board Meeting, resident Lisa Yitts was appointed to fill one of the two open seats on the Grafton Board of Registrar of Voters. Prior to her appointment vote, Yitts spoke about what motivated her to submit her name for consideration. A town resident for approximately 30 years, Yitts explained she has been an active voter and constant Town Meeting attendee with an interest in the Town voting process. Yitts also stated she has done a bit of campaign work, gathering signatures and attending "standouts." Raising her family had been been a priority. Her focus has now turned towards giving back to the Town. Select Board Chair Matt Often expressed the Select Board's appreciation for her desire to be joining,".. such an important part of municipal democracy."

Once sworn in, it is believed Yitts will occupy Seat 3, previously held by former Registrar Chair Chet Jukubiak (D). Jukubiak did not seek reappointment in June. Seat 3 comes with a term expiration of June 30, 2024.

Even with the appointment of Ms. Yitts, the Board of Registrars still has one vacant seat. Back on February 15th of this year, former Registrar Jodie McInerney (R) submitted her letter of resignation to the Town Clerk. McInerney's Seat 1 vacancy on the Board of Registrars was temporarily filled by the Select Board on April 11, 2023 with the appointment of former Registrar Justin Philips. That appointment of "Interim Registrar," came with an early expiration term, set by the Select Board, of May 2, 2023. Philips had previously served as a Registrar in Grafton from 2016 to 2019.

The appointment of Yitts should bring relief for those candidates seeking election to State and Town political committees. The Grafton Town Clerk's Office has been, until now, unable to certify nomination papers submitted by those candidates due to an insufficient number of Registrars. The deadline to submit nomination papers to local election officials is November 10th. After picking up their certified nomination papers from the Town, candidates must then submit them to the state Election Division by November 21st. The names of the certified candidates will be placed on the 2024 Presidential Primary ballot. That election for cities and towns in Massachusetts will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.