EMERGENCY MEETING
Minutes Select Board
Tuesday June 14, 2016 – 6:30 pm
Holland Town Hall
27 Sturbridge Road
Holland, MA
Present: Lawrence Mandell, Chair
Andrew Harhay, Member
Absent: Elias Gillen
Sharon Ashleigh explained how it came to be that there is now a tie where there was a winner last might. Sharon explained that five individuals voted on a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are created by individuals whose name does not appear on the cross-off list (list of all the registered voters) but which insist that they are registered voters. Such provisional ballots are not run through the voting machine as their claim to be registered voter first needs to be verified by the town clerk. Hence, these votes were not included in the count published last night.
Sharon checked the five individuals voting status and determined that one was not a registered voter, two had registered too late, and the last two were registered voters but had moved within the town. This is the reason why the two names were missing on the list of registered voters.~
The question was then what to do about the tie. The options:
- Either candidate or both could ask for a recount;
- either one could withdraw their candidacy; or
- the town will have to organize another caucus followed by a special election.
Either candidate has 10 days to request a recount. Depending on the outcome, the recount will establish a winner, or, the town will organize a special election.
Adjourned
Submitted by Larry Mandell
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