Electronic Voting

In Mass, More Town Meetings Now Use Electronic Voting Devices, Giving Residents Privacy, Instant Results and Taking Away the Fear in Voting

This is a map I have been working on showing some of the communities that use electronic voting devices at Town Meeting in Massachusetts.


In Ayer, I have submitted a citizen petition related to electronic voting devices for the April 28, 2025 Annual Town Meeting. This has been placed on the draft warrant. I wrote this blog to share a little more information with other residents.

If you live in Massachusetts, check out YouTube. Chances are, you will find a local Town Meeting among the program lineup this time of year. Technology has given us a chance to get a glimpse of other meetings – and more towns are using electronic voting devices.

Across Massachusetts, more than 70 communities are now using electronic voting devices at Town Meeting, according to one vendor. And this is a positive development for residents, helps us get more out of the Town Meeting process. In Ayer, it is a voice vote at Town Meeting. Nearby, you will find electronic voting devices at Town Meetings in:

Ayer does not use electronic voting devices at Town Meeting. But nearby towns do: Groton, Westford, Littleton, Harvard, Lancaster and Lunenburg.

  • Groton
  • Harvard
  • Littleton
  • Westford
  • Lunenburg

Electronic Voting Devices in Use at Massachusetts Town Meetings

Electronic voting devices are easy to use: Residents press a button on a hand-held clicker and the vote count shows up on the screen near the moderator. No voice vote.

Meridia EZ-Vote 5, a voting device used at many Massachusetts town meetings.

Below, you can see electronic voting devices in action at the Lunenberg Town Meeting in May 2022.

Start around the 5 min mark and see the moderator test the voting devices. Fast forward to the 21:46 mark and watch a vote from the meeting warrant.

Town meeting video posted on YouTube.

How does electronic voting make Town Meeting better?

Privacy. Residents can vote anonymously by pressing a hand-held clicker. No voice vote in front of your boss, neighbor, colleague or family member.

No Herd Voting. There are no loud voices to sway the vote anymore with electronic voting devices. We have all been to meetings where groups sit together and their voices dominate. Or in some cases, elected officials are the herd, voting from a highly visible position in the room or through a microphone.

No One is Singled Out for Voting No Anymore. When a Town Meeting gathers without electronic voting devices, a voter may hear all the yes votes, then have to vote no alone, be the only voice that speaks up. In this situation, the voter may decide there is no point in voting no. It is unfair. That voter has the same right to vote as everyone else. This can also be difficult for voters new to the meeting and older voters.

Integrity of the Vote. Electronic voting is more accurate than a voice vote that a moderator calls from the front of the room. And if residents do not vote, the electronic voting devices can identify that. This is better than automatically counting these voters as yes, as often happens.

Instant Count, Improved Town Meeting Experience and Efficiency

  • Faster votes saves time for more discussion.
  • Eliminates the need for secret ballot.
  • Using electronic voting devices counters the perception of a slow meeting, which can discourage residents from attending.
  • Helps new members learn and process what is happening.

Resiidents Can Give Feedback. Votes are currently called Pass by Majority, Pass by Two-Thirds and Fail. With electronic voting devices, if residents want to vote no, we can at least show ourselves. For instance, say 20 residents vote no. An article may still pass, but this gives the town Select Board and management feedback to consider for next time.

Materials:

Electronic Voting Vendor
Visit this website for testimonials and case studies from other towns.

Nearby:

Groton, Massachusetts
Public hearing notice | Newspaper article | Website Advisory