Swampscott Seeks Ways To Increase Election Turnout

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott is seeking resident input on voting habits as the town seeks to improve engagement and participation in the town's annual election process.

The Swampscott Election Review Committee is looking for responses to an online survey here as part of its mission to discuss and debate potential strategies to increase voting numbers.

• Swampscott Election Review Committee Formed After Town Meeting Shift

The Committee will present its findings, including the survey results, to the Select Board and on the floor of the annual town meeting to help determine if any changes should be made to voting procedures or the town election process.

Residents have until Oct. 15 to complete the survey.

Those with questions are asked to reach out to Shayne Spaulding, Committee Vice Chair and survey subcommittee member, at shaynespauld@gmail.com.

Former Select Board member Peter Spellios had proposed sweeping changes to the town elections in
a 2024 town meeting warrant article that would have moved the date of the annual town election to June, mandated early voting for all elections, created a minimum vote total for town meeting members to be elected, and endorsed the inclusion of 16- and 17-year-olds in town election votes if a provision allowing that passes the state legislature.

But the article was pulled shortly before a March 2024 special town meeting, and in its place, the outline of an election review committee to study the proposed changes — and anything else election-related deemed helpful to increasing voter engagement — and report back to the Select Board.