Reading Election Day Policies

Election Day - Policies

The Town of Reading Town Clerk will enforce the following Election Day Policies with the assistance of all Election Officers and the Reading Police Department. The authority to set these Policies is stipulated in the following Massachusetts General Laws:

MGL Chapter 54 Section 71

The presiding officer at each polling place shall enforce the performance by election officers of their duties. During an election and the counting of the ballots after the close of the polls, he shall have authority to maintain order and to enforce obedience to his lawful commands, in and about the polling place and to keep the access thereto open and unobstructed, and he may require any police officer, constable or other person to communicate his orders and directions and assist in their enforcement.

MGL Chapter 54 Section 71A

Election officers in cities and in towns shall perform their duties under the supervision of the city or town clerk.

Town of Reading Election Day Policies:

Election Zone:

 The lobby and gym area of the Field House at Reading Memorial High School from the time election equipment is set up to the time election equipment is taken down

Animals:

 No animals except Service Dogs will be allowed within the Election Zone

Cameras:

 Anyone wishing to photograph anything within the Election Zone must check in with the Town Clerk

 All photographs must be taken from an area designated by the Town Clerk  All photographs must respect the right to privacy of the voter  Absolutely no photographs of balloting is permitted

Campaigns:

 There will be no campaigning with 150 feet of the Election Zone  All campaign materials must remain outside the 150 feet including bumper stickers

Cell Phones:

 Each Precinct is a “Cell Free Zone” - No Cell Phone use is permitted within the Guardrails of any Precinct by anyone

Town of Reading Page 1 of 2Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading MA 01867

Office of the Town Clerk fax: 781-942-9070 781-942-9050 website: www.readingma.gov

Electronic Audio Recording:

 MGL Chapter 54 Section 76 prohibits the use of any audio recording within the Election Zone

Exit Polling:

 Exit Polling will not be allowed anywhere within the Election Zone but may be conducted as voters leave the Election Zone

 Anyone conducting Exit Polling must be considerate and respectful of the voters  Anyone conducting Exit Polling must notify the Town Clerk of intent

Food or Beverage:

 No food or beverage except water will be allowed within the Election Zone

Observers:

 All Observers must check in with the Town Clerk  All Observers must follow the policies of the Town of Reading and the General Laws

of Massachusetts  All Observers must respect the rights of voters

Press:

 All press within the Election Zone must check in with the Town Clerk  The press will be assigned a staging area within or adjacent to the Election Zone or

may work anywhere outside the Election Zone  The press will be assigned by the Town Clerk a location from which photographs may

be taken, while respecting the privacy of voters

Soliciting:

 Groups or Organizations will not be allowed to sell or distribute products or literature within the Election Zone

Students:

 No one will be allowed to enter the Election Zone while equipment is setup and polls are closed

Weapons:

Federal Firearm Law 18 USC § 922(q)(2)(A) Punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment Except as authorized, may not possess or discharge a firearm in a school zone

 No firearms will be allowed within the Election Zone with the exception of police officers MGL Chapter 269 Section 10 (j)

 “Off-Duty” police officers carrying a weapon should notify the Reading Police Officer on duty that they are carrying a weapon