Resident presents petition seeking second polling place and $15,000 for equipment and staffing

At the start of the meeting a resident presented a petition asking the town to create a second polling place (the petition named Swansea Center and Whitcomb Hall as locations) and to raise $15,000 to buy and program an additional voting machine and fund staffing for the additional location.

The petitioner said they collected about 160 signatures and intended to present the petition to Town Clerk Michael for processing. Selectboard members discussed staffing and machine costs in later agenda items and noted that any change in polling locations or the addition of a second location intersects with election administration logistics, machine programming, and moderator assignments.

No formal action or vote to place funding on the warrant was recorded in the transcript. Staff and board members acknowledged the petition will proceed through the town’s petition and warrant process for consideration.