Town Clerk & Registrars’ Annual Report
Historic.
Historic. One word that sums up this past year for the Town Clerk & Registrars Office. The turnout for the Presidential Election was 14,563 the highest voter turnout in over 20 years. It is also the second highest turnout in modern history, just 40 voters below the all-time high. That was the Presidential Election that featured local candidate and Massachusetts Governor, Michael Dukakis.
The Annual Town Election also set a modern record. We had 6,675 voters, which was just under the record turnout of 6,715 in 1982. The turnout this year was heavily influenced by the Proposition 2 ½ Override, as was the election in 1982. The ’82 election also featured a heavily contested race for Town Treasurer, as Norm Silk had retired.
To prepare for the Presidential Election, we needed to almost double the number of poll workers to assist in the record turnout. We also conducted training sessions for all poll workers that took place over four sessions held at the Elks Lodge. We thank the Elks for their donated space, it worked out wonderfully. They are a remarkable organization that does so much for our Town. As always, our poll workers did a fabulous job ensuring our shared democracy. They are a great credit to our Town.
We also added additional signage, handicapped parking spots and voter assistance booths at every precinct. We set up voter assistance booths so residents could check their voter registrations and have any questions answered without having to wait in the line at the check-in desk. This worked out very well as voters after the initial morning rush were able to vote in less than five minutes. It was a tremendous success. The School Department was an important partner in our election efforts this year.
Randolph also set an all-time high for voter registrations with 19,566. This was due in part to a partnership with many community organizations who conducted voter drives and a “traveling road show” on the part of this office. We conducted voter drives at shopping plazas, the post office and even the youth soccer fields. Our efforts paid off as the Boston Globe noted that we had the highest increase of voter registrations of any community south of Boston over the past three years!
And finally, we had another record – we certified 8,402 signatures on petitions and nomination papers. Last year the number was 2,224 signatures. The previous record was set in 2002 with 7,224 signatures which corresponded with a significant number of state ballot initiative petitions.
We also welcomed Cheryl Sass to the office replacing Joan Everett. Joan was a valued employee who gave many years to this town. Her computer and analytical skills were second to none. Cheryl brings a similar background as she worked for many years at Goulston and Storrs as a legal secretary. Her organizational and computer abilities are a great compliment to the office.
I would like to thank my office staff for their continued professionalism in meeting the needs of the public during our current fiscal restraints. My sincere thanks to Anne Zadai, Kristin McDonald, Cheryl Sass and Betty Bertrand for their efforts this past year.
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