Tabulator testing completed Wednesday, demonstrating the voting machines count what they should

"Wednesday morning, the Council Chambers at the municipal building became the scene of a mock election, as batches of ballots, marked up randomly, and in some cases very incorrectly, by a third party,  some with too many selections or markings out of the proper area, others no longer exactly flat.

The nine machines, one for each precinct, were put through their paces with the sample ballots by a crew of election workers and election wardens, all  under the eye of Town Clerk Nancy Danello and Assistant Town Clerk Dyan Fitzgerald. Also present was the Observer, Steve Sherlock from Franklin Matters (who recorded audio of the whole process) and a few members of the public."

Continue reading the Observer's recap ->

https://franklinobserver.town.news/g/franklin-town-ma/n/128573/ballot-machines-tested-muni-building-wednesday

 

As noted, I am processing the audio of the testing session. Our Town Clerk Nancy Danello was happy to wear a microphone for the event so her outline of the process as well as many of the questions asked of her were captured and will be shared as soon as possible.

demonstrating the voting machines count what they should

Please don't make this an "apathy election" - get out and vote on or before Nov 8

“There does seem to be a certain lack of intensity.”

⁃ Sec. of State Bill Galvin on the 2022 state election

There’s your early leader in the clubhouse for understatement of the year. And according to Galvin, the “slow” pace of mail-in voting points to a turnout of hundreds of thousands fewer voters than the last midterms.

It’s not as if the 2018 ballot was significantly sexier than this year’s uncompetitive dud. The Warren-Diehl Senate race never polled closer than 22 points. The Baker-Gonzalez gubernatorial matchup was like an old Mutt & Jeff comic strip without the hilarity. The ballot questions were low-key affairs.

This cycle features an open governor’s race that held the potential for competitiveness until GOP leadership drove their chances into a bridge abutment, vacancies for attorney general and auditor, and ballot questions touching on third-rail issues of taxation and immigration. And while the Congressional seats are barely contested, a red-hot battle for Capitol control in the lower 49 states could have conceivably pulled out some message-sending locals."

Continue reading Jon Keller's opinion online -> 

https://massterlist.com/2022/10/25/the-apathy-election/

The Election Collection contains all the info that should be helpful to Franklin voters. If you don't find something, please let me know and we'll se if it can be obtained.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/10/election-collection-2022-state-election.html

Election Collection 2022: State election November 8

Tabulator/voting machine testing - October 26 at 9 AM

Our Town Clerk Nancy Danello has scheduled the tabulator/voting machine testing for Wednesday, Oct 26 at 9 AM in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Building.

Observers welcome!

• See for yourself how voting is paper ballot based
• See how the machines have no connection to the internet

This is an opportunity to ask about how the vote is tabulated by the machine, cross checked manually, and then tallied in a spreadsheet to produce the 'unofficial results'. The Town Clerk then has time in the office to validate the checks, etc. to confirm and produce the 'official results'.

The testing was completed prior to the September primary and reported on previously: https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/08/town-clerks-office-completes-testing-of.html

Town Clerk notification of testing -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/news/tabulatorballot-testing-october-26th-see-attached

All of our tabulators have been tested for accuracy & have been confirmed as ready for voters (Town of Franklin photo)

60 Minutes: "Dominion Voting Systems CEO speaks out against conspiracy theories" (video)

"Can you flip votes in the computer system? Can you add votes that did not exist?" Anderson Cooper asks Dominion Voting Systems CEO John Poulos. "Absolutely not," Poulos says. See the interview, Sunday on 60 Minutes.

Video link -> https://youtu.be/31grSlMVFDU

Shared from CBS News: -> 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dominion-voting-systems-ceo-machines-conspiracy-theories-60-minutes-2022-10-23/#app

The MA voting system administered by the Secretary of the Commonwealth and used by Franklin (along with the other 350 communities) is

• paper ballot based
• the voter registration system is a closed network (not part of Internet)
• highly secure

Town of Franklin, MA: Town Clerk reminds of early voting schedule

Franklin Voters! 

The State Election will be held on Tuesday 11/8, 2022 from 6 AM - 8 PM at the @FranklinHS Gymnasium. 

Early Voting will run 10/22 - 11/4 at the Franklin Municipal Building ONLY (355 East Central Street).

More information here: https://t.co/f01g5uboZv  or ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/information-franklin-voters-regarding-upcoming-election

Shared from Twitter -> https://t.co/ugVZKFd17h  

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1582783621458710528

Town of Franklin, MA: Town Clerk reminds of early voting schedule

Information for Franklin Voters Regarding the Upcoming Election

Notice from the Office of the Town Clerk's Office regarding in person early voting, mail-in ballots, and election day.

The State Election will be held on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 from 6am - 8pm at the Franklin High School Gymnasium. In person early voting will take place October 22nd - November 4th at the Franklin Municipal Building ONLY (355 East Central Street). There will be NO in person early voting at Franklin High School.

The Municipal Building in person early voting dates are as follows…

• Saturday, Oct. 22 in person: 9am -3pm
• Monday, Oct. 24 in person: 8am - 4pm
• Tuesday, Oct. 25 in person: 8am - 4pm
• Wednesday, Oct. 26 in person: 8am - 6pm
• Thursday, Oct. 27 in person: 8am - 4pm
• Friday, October 28 in person: 8am - 1pm
• Saturday, Oct. 29 in person: 9am - 5pm *Last day to register to vote*
• Monday, Oct. 31 in person: 8am - 4pm
• Tuesday, Nov. 1 in person: 8am - 4pm
• Wednesday, Nov. 2 in person: 8am - 6pm
• Thursday, Nov. 3 in person: 8am - 4pm
• Friday, Nov. 4 in person: 8am - 1pm

The last day to register to vote is Saturday, October 29th, 2022. You may check or update your information via the State's Online Voter Registration tool: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/

Ballots arrived at the Town Clerk's office on October 11th, 2022. Our staff is working diligently to ensure all voters that have already requested a mail-in ballot receive them in a timely manner.

Requesting a Mail-In Ballot

Voters may apply to receive a mail-in ballot by Tuesday, November 1st at 5pm the latest. Voters are encouraged to apply as early as possible for a mail-in ballot, especially if your ballot will need to be mailed out of town. The U.S. Postal Service recommends allowing up to 7 days for mail delivery. To ensure you receive your ballot with enough time to mail it back, you should apply 2-3 weeks before Election Day. Your application can only be accepted if it has reached your local election office by the deadline. You may apply to receive a mail-in ballot online here: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleabsentee/absidx.htm

Returning Your Ballot
Once you have received and completed your ballot, you may return it by…

• Mailing it back using the envelope provided; or
• Hand-delivering your ballot to the Town Clerk's Office in the Municipal Building during Early Voting hours or during regular business hours on November 7th (8am - 4pm) and before 8pm on November 8th, 2022; or
• Hand-delivering your ballot using our ballot drop box any time before 8pm on November 8th, 2022. Both ballot drop boxes are located at the Franklin Municipal Building. 
  • 355 East Central Street (To the left of the building)
  • 355 East Central Street (Mail slot to left as you enter walkway to main entrance)

Please note that Ballots cannot be dropped off at a polling place on Election Day.   

You may track your ballot once you have mailed it here:   https://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/track/trackmyballot.aspx?fbclid=IwAR05tPzvphL6RcC30l3vjBcdlmDilXXeskulh-S_5-RLBl5idHG1qRwLGtU   

Please see the attached voting schedule flyer. Questions? Call the Town Clerk's Office at 508-520-4900.

Shared from Town of Franklin page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/information-franklin-voters-regarding-upcoming-election

Information for Franklin Voters Regarding the Upcoming Nov 8, 2022 Election

Town of Franklin: Early Voting Schedule for Nov 8, 2022 Election

Early voting for the Town of Franklin voters will be held in the Municipal Building at 355 East Central St. There Will Be NO Early In Person Voting At Franklin High School

• Saturday, October 22 - Early Voting in person 9:00 am until 3:00 pm

• Monday, October 24 - Early Voting in person between 8:00 am until 4:00 pm

• Tuesday, October 25 - Early Voting in person between 8:00 am until 4:00 pm

• Wednesday, October 26 - Early Voting in person between 8:00 am until 6:00 pm

• Thursday, October 27 - Early Voting in person between 8:00 am until 4:00 pm

• Friday, October 28 - Early Voting in person between 8:00 am until 1:00 pm

• Saturday, October 29 - Last Day to Register to Vote and Early Voting in person 9:00 am until 5:00 pm

• Monday, October 31 - Early Voting in person between 8:00 am until 4:00 pm

• Tuesday, November 1 - Early Voting in person between 8:00 am until 4:00 pm

• Wednesday, November 2 - Early Voting in person between 8:00 am until 6:00 pm

• Thursday, November 3 - Early Voting in person between 8:00 am until 4:00 pm

• Friday, November 4 - Early Voting in person between 8:00 am until 1:00 pm

More information on the election can be found on the Town Clerk's page

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk

Town of Franklin: Early Voting Schedule for Nov 8, 2022 Election

Senator Becca Rausch and I had a wide ranging conversation on education, health care, elections & voting, and more (audio)

FM #857 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 857 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Senator Becca Rausch. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this post pandemic period.

We have a wide ranging conversation on education, health care, elections & voting, and of course climate. Links to the Senator’s pages as mentioned during our conversation are provided in the show notes.  

Our recording runs about 41 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Senator Becca Rausch.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-857-state-senator-becca-rausch-10-03-22

--------------

Senator Becca Rausch home page:   https://www.beccarauschma.com/ 

Her issues page:  https://www.beccarausch.com/issues    

Constituent engagement opportunities

• Youth advisory council  https://www.beccarauschma.com/youth-advisory-council 

• Small business advisory council  https://www.beccarauschma.com/small-business-council 

• Virtual office hours   https://www.beccarauschma.com/office-hours 

Newsletter archive  https://us20.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=09452b4d597ce95fe20563af4&id=c427233b9b  

Hey Sam - support line -> https://samaritanshope.org/our-services/24-7-helpline/ 

From the audio archives: 

The conversation recorded in March 2021

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/03/fm-492-senator-becca-rausch-031121-audio.html 

The conversation recorded in August 2020

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/fm-331-senator-becca-rausch-81420-audio.html 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

what is your voting plan?

The State Election 2022 Red Book is coming to your postal mailbox

The Secretary of the Commonwealth has announced:

"Check your mailbox for the red Information for Voters book, which has information on 2022 ballot questions. Books are being delivered to all households this month.

Note: There will be 4 statewide questions on the November ballot. 

Questions 1-3 are included in the printed Information for Voters book. Question 4 was submitted too late to be included, but you can find it in the online version at http://VoteInMA.com."

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/VotingInMass/status/1570459490637729796

Question 1 -  https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele22/information-for-voters-22/quest_1.htm

Question 2 -  https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele22/information-for-voters-22/quest_2.htm

Question 3 -  https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele22/information-for-voters-22/quest_3.htm

Question 4 -  https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele22/information-for-voters-22/quest_4.htm

The Red Book is coming to your postal mailbox

CommonWealth Magazine: "Half of primary ballots cast before Election Day"

"ELECTION DAY may be a misnomer. 

State primary turnout figures make clear a new reality, with important implications for campaign strategies: Election Day is actually election season. For the second time in as many election cycles, fewer than half of ballots were cast on Election Day itself. More were cast early, either in person or, primarily, by mail. " 

Continue reading the article in CommonWealth Magazine

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/half-of-primary-ballots-cast-before-election-day/

voting booths at Franklin High School

	% by Mail	% Early Vote	% Day of	Total Ballots
Democrat	52.0%	4.7%	43.2%	777,819
Republican	27.4%	4.2%	68.3%	276,158

Senator Rausch: Sep 6 - Primary Voting Info

Everything you need to vote by mail, vote early, or vote in person on Election Day.

View this email in your browser Senator Rausch State House Briefing    Part 2, Chapter 20 (August 25, 2022)    It's primary season! Do you have a plan to vote in the Tuesday, September 6 Massachusetts primary election? As a registered voter, you have the choice to vote by mail, vote early, or vote on Election Day. I fought incredibly hard to bring vote by mail to our Commonwealth, and I'm deeply proud that we have expanded access to the ballot box through my legislative work. In such uncertain times, it is crucial that we protect our democracy by preserving our constitutional right to vote.  In this newsletter, you'll find everything you need to make a voting plan for the Massachusetts primary election. For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter and Facebook. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me and my team via phone (617-722-1555) or email (becca.rausch@masenate.gov). We are here to help.    Happy voting! Yours in service,     Senator Becca Rausch    Resources at a Glance  Check your voter registration, find your polling place, and preview your ballot  Find your early voting site Register to vote or update your voter registration  Download an application to vote-by-mail, call 800-462-VOTE (8683) to request an application, or email elections@sec.state.ma.us (and include an e-signature)  Application and ballot tracker Find your local election office  REGISTER TO VOTE   The deadline to register for the September 6 primary election is Saturday, August 27. You can check your voter registration, find your polling place, and preview your ballot here.  VOTE BY MAIL Fill out a vote by mail application   If you did not receive a vote by mail application in the mail, you can request one online, contact your local election office, or call 1-800-462-VOTE to get a copy mailed to you. If you are an unenrolled or independent voter, make sure you indicate on the application which party's primary ballot you want to receive. If you do not apply for a mail-in ballot for the primary, or you miss the deadline, you should get another application in the mail in September to vote by mail in the November 8 general election.  Send in your vote by mail application  Simply mail, email, fax, or drop off your application to your town or city clerk. The application sent to you will be addressed with guaranteed prepaid postage. If you submit the application via email, the application must have your signature on it. Your town or city clerk must receive your application by 5PM on Monday, August 29.  Submit your mail-in ballot  You can submit your mail-in ballot via mail, ballot drop box, or at your early voting location.  A mail-in ballot will be sent to you at the address where you registered to vote, or a different address of your choosing if you designated it on your application. You will receive your ballot, instructions for voting by mail and completing your ballot, and an envelope pre-addressed with postage guaranteed to send to your local clerk. Remember to check the back side of your ballot and vote there too. Do not forget to sign your ballot!  The deadline to drop off your ballot is 8 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, September 6. If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked no later than Election Day and received by your town or city clerk by 8 PM on Tuesday, September 6.  VOTE IN PERSON - EARLY OR ON ELECTION DAY If you do not want to vote by mail, you can still vote early in person or head to the polls on Election Day.   In-Person Early Voting  Polling will begin on Saturday, August 27 and end on Friday, September 2.  Voting on Election Day  Polls will be open from 7AM-8PM on Election Day, Tuesday, September 6th. If you are in line by 8PM, you must be allowed to vote.   If you have any questions about voting in Massachusetts, please don't hesitate to reach out to my office at 617-722-1555 or the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office at 1-800-462-VOTE. Happy voting!   Virtual Evening Office Hours   My team and I host virtual office hours every month. Residents from any part of the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District, as well as residents of the Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex District (which takes effect in January 2023), are welcome to share their questions and opinions on state issues with me and my team via video chat or phone call.     Sign up for a 15-minute appointment here.          Upcoming virtual office hours:     Monday, September 12, 5-6 PM Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 218 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133

Town Clerk's office completes testing of the voting machines

"The Town Clerk’s office has been hard at work preparing for ballot testing this week. All of our tabulators have been tested for accuracy & have been confirmed as ready for voters! In-person voting for the State Primary Election is 9/6/22 at Franklin High School from 6 AM - 8 PM"

Early voting opens Saturday, Aug 27 at 9 AM at Franklin High School. All 9 precincts vote in one place.

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1562828012986703873 

More info on the election can be found on the Town Clerk page

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk

Testing conducted in public on Wednesday, Aug 24 was also reported via

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/08/town-of-franklin-voting-machines-pass.html

All of our tabulators have been tested for accuracy & have been confirmed as ready for voters (Town of Franklin photo)