By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

July 23, 2020) The following took place during the Berlin Board of Supervisors of Elections meeting on Tuesday, July 14:

Guidebook

The five board members reviewed sections of the guidebook before a training session that will occur closer to election day. The first section of the guidebook details the role of board members, said Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen.

The next section includes a list of board members and how the board functions. A list of materials for election day belongs in this section and will be added after the town administrative staff learns what is needed for social distancing requirements.

Bohlen said the board will review the third section about paper ballot instructions when there are actual examples. The fourth section provides alphabetized lists of district information and a map of the Town of Berlin.

The fifth section contains forms for the board members’ reference about absentee voting and candidates. Sections six and seven pertain to the town charter and town code in reference to the election process. The last section has legal notices.

Social distancing at polls

Districts 3 and 4 voters will vote at the Berlin Police Department, 129 Decatur Street, this year. Districts 1 and 2 voters will vote at Buckingham Presbyterian Church, 20 S. Main Street.

PHOTO COURTESY TOWN OF BERLIN
Districts 3 and 4 voters will vote at the Berlin Police Department, 129 Decatur Street, this year. Districts 1 and 2 voters will vote at Buckingham Presbyterian Church, 20 S. Main Street.

Bohlen said the town administrative staff will be evaluating how to arrange the layout at the Berlin Police Department and Buckingham Presbyterian Church to enforce social distancing. PPE will be purchased, and the town is considering adding acrylic shields between voters and poll workers.

In addition, the town is strongly encouraging people to vote by absentee ballot, Bohlen said.

Typical issues

Bohlen said common problems on election day are people arriving at the wrong polling place for their district or insisting that they are registered to vote. The Worcester County Board of Elections will be readily available all day to verify their records of registered voters, Bohlen added.

“We have not had issues that have not been readily solved within just a few minutes,” she said.

Campaign signs

Board members can call into question campaign signs. Bohlen addressed the town code’s regulations, stating campaign signs cannot be posted more than 60 days preceding the applicable election and must be removed within seven days following the day of the applicable election.

Candidates must receive permission from property owners to post any campaign signs, posters or placards.

Campaign signs cannot obstruct traffic view from any direction or obstruct any pedestrian or public road.

Lastly, prior to the close of polls on election day, campaign signs that have been lawfully posted cannot be removed by anyone not authorized by the candidate or group responsible for posting those signs.

Upcoming meetings

The board will meet Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. and Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m. to further discuss its function in the Berlin municipal election on Oct. 6 for mayor, Districts 2 and 3 council seats and at-large council Seat (special election).

Election districts

Board member Nicky Chavis asked why the local election is not held the same day as the county or national election. Bohlen said the elections are not connected. She added that there is no guarantee that the election districts would match up for county, state and federal elections because there are geographical differences in district lines. 

Chavis said she believes the voter turnout rate would be higher if the elections were held the same day.