SOUTHWICK – Voters will still cast their ballot at Southwick Town Hall June 9, but instead of voting in the auditorium they will vote in the Senior Center.
Town Clerk Michelle Hill said the new polling place allows for one-floor voting.
“With Covid-19, I had to make changes on how we enter and exit the building. I found it was a challenge for several people due to the long walk,” Hill said of the recent state special election. “Now that we have purchased new voting booths, making a move to the senior center is doable.”
Starting with the June 9 annual election, the polling location will move from the auditorium to the senior center. The move will allow voters to enter and exit Town Hall on one level. Hill said the process will be as follows:
· Park in the back of Town Hall
· Enter using the entrance near the garage door
· Enter Senior Center through double doors
· Proceed to your precinct marked on the doors.
· Exit using the center ramp
Voting and COVID-19 rules on display at Southwick Town Hall during the May 19 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District Senate seat election. (MARC ST. ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
In addition, early voting “by mail” was added to this election under the Governor’s Executive Order. Early voting will allow anyone who does not feel comfortable voting in person to use this option. The application has to be received no later than June 5 by 4:30 p.m. in the Town Clerk’s office (drop applications in the green mailbox). The ballots must be returned to the Town Clerk’s Office by 7:59 p.m. on June 9. Drop the completed ballot sealed and signed, using the brown envelope provided, in the green mailbox outside the Town Hall if you do not want to use regular mail.
“We will be on ground level with the election flow coming in one door and exiting out another,” Hill said. “In addition, both the entrance and exit are handicap accessible with more parking in the back of the building.”
Southwick has 7,003 registered voters. As always, Hill said she hopes all of them will exercise their right and vote.
