NAHANT — Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, there will be a few key differences when it comes to where and how Nahant residents cast their votes this weekend, said Town Administrator Tony Barletta.
In an effort to keep people as safe as possible during Nahant’s annual town election, the polling station will be moved from its usual location in the basement of Nahant Town Hall to the building’s main hall, which is considerably bigger and will allow for voters to maintain better social distancing guidelines. There will also be two doors: one for voters to enter, and one for them to exit.
Booths themselves will be stationed six feet apart, and the town has pre-ordered enough pens to give out to every voter so that none are used twice.
“It’s good to make sure the public understands what they’re going to encounter when they come to vote,” Barletta said. “We’re taking the extra steps to make sure people aren’t sharing contact surfaces.”
Similar to how many stores are operating under current state guidelines, the line to vote will also require visitors to stay six feet apart and will continue outside the building if necessary.
Barletta said his only concern is the possibility of inclement weather.
“We have enough room in the town hall to queue about 30 people,” he said. “The problem would be if we had a rush of people at the same time and it’s bad weather, because we only have so much space inside the main hall when adhering to social distancing.”
In the past, Nahant’s town election has always taken place on the same day as the annual town meeting. However, 2020 is the first year this won’t be the case.
Following a recommendation by the Division of Local Services’ Department of Revenue, the town voted to move the big event to later in the fiscal year and will now take place sometime this fall.
Doing so will give officials a better idea of how Nahant’s state revenue will be affected by the public health crisis, and will allow them to craft a more accurate town budget.
Barletta also added that holding both the election and town meeting on the same day would have been a difficult task.
“We’re doing everything we can to keep people safe, and we’re asking people for their patience,” he said.
Nahant’s town elections will take place Saturday, June 20, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Those with questions should contact the town hall at (781) 581-1600.