ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
KIPP administrator Hugo Carbajal in the school’s gym, which could be one of the polling places in the school.
By BRIDGET TURCOTTE
LYNN — Residents in two Ward 4 precincts will cast votes at KIPP Academy during the November presidential election.
In anticipation of record voter turnout, City Clerk Mary Audley and the Lynn City Council are examining the city’s polling places.
City councilors are looking at moving the voting place for Ward 4 precincts 1 and 2 to KIPP Academy at 90 High Rock St., in the Highlands neighborhood. Ward 4 precincts 3 and 4 will cast votes at the Lynn Museum & Historical Society.
Ward 4 voters living in neighborhoods near Union, Essex, and Ocean streets voted at North Shore Community College until construction began at the college and parking became an issue, said Councilor Hong Net.
Last year, the residents voted at the Lynn Museum, he said.
The changes will require a full council vote, said Dan Cahill, city council president.
Throughout the process, Audley visited locations citywide to determine which are most suitable. She said the charter school has the perfect setup for a polling location in its gymnasium.
“The reason I like the gym is there’s an entryway in the back of the building,” Audley said. “Voters could park and go right into the gym and wouldn’t have to go through the school at all. It’s very accessible to voters, handicapped and otherwise.”
There should be plenty of parking in the back of the building, Audley added.
KIPP administrator Hugo Carvajal said he’s pleased with the decision.
After regular school hours, the building is used as a community learning center and hosts English as a second language, computer literacy and Zumba Fitness classes. Hundreds of people in the neighborhood are already familiar with the building, he said.
“The location would be a lot closer for them,” Carvajal said. “The majority of our families come from Ward 4.”
The surrounding neighborhood is very diverse, Carvajal said. He expects there will be new citizens who will vote for the first time at KIPP.
“It would be great to have our kids do community service and help out that day,” he said.
Audley agreed, saying anytime children are exposed to voting, it’s a good thing. Students over the age of 17, who are Lynn residents, can help with various jobs.
Last week, the council voted to change the polling place for Ward 3 from Lynn English High School to the new Marshall Middle School on Brookline Street.
Audley said the changes are not limited to Wards 3 and 4. The Council will look at what changes should be made throughout the entire city and make a decision with enough time to inform residents before voting.
Additional changes will be discussed at the next City Council meeting May 24.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte
