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Rescheduling of Annual Town Election

Posted on: May 13, 2020 - 1:22pm

In response to the State of Emergency and concerns about COVID-19 and its implications on election administration, the Governor signed a law authorizing the Board of Selectmen to vote to postpone the local election which was scheduled for May 9, 2020. A copy of the law may be viewed here. At its meeting on March 23, 2020, the Board of Selectmen voted to reschedule the election to May 30, 2020.  George Miller  made a MOTION, seconded by Wendy Cochrane that, in accordance with Senate Bill 2608, the Town of Berkley postpone the Town election scheduled for May 9, 2020, to May 30, 2020. Roll call vote: Motion approved  

The law requires the Town to post public notice of the postponed election and rescheduled election date on its website and to broadly publicize the postponement and rescheduling. Berkley is posting this notice on the website and will provide additional notice in the form of video scroll on the local cable station 9.

The law establishes a new voter registration deadline of 8:00 p.m. on the 10th day before the rescheduled election.  The rescheduled election date is May 30, 2020 therefore, the 10th day before the rescheduled election is Wednesday, May 20, 2020. 

The law authorizes the Town to reuse election materials.  The Town will be using the official and absentee ballots used for the May 9, 2020 election.  As required by the law a sample of the ballot may be viewed here.

In light of widespread practice of social distancing, the law provides for two alternatives to voting in person:

  • First, the law allows any person taking precaution related to COVID-19 to vote by absentee ballot.  All applications for an absentee ballot must be received by the Town Clerk before noon on Friday May 29, 2020, the last business day before the election.  Any person may apply for an absentee ballot by sending a signed request to the Town Clerk’s office or filling out the absentee ballot application available here.
  • Second, the law provides for early voting by mail.  All applications for early voting ballots must be received before noon on Friday May 29, 2020, the last business day before the election.  Any person may obtain an early voting ballot by sending a signed request to the Town Clerk’s office or by filling out and returning the early voting application available here.  Your early voting ballot must be received by the Town Clerk before the polls close 8:00 PM on Election Day.

 The law does NOT make any other changes to elections or the election process. It does NOT, for example, change the number of signatures or the submission deadline for candidates for office.