LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO MEET WITH SELECT BOARD ON NON CITIZEN VOTING

 Virtual Town Meetings Will Also Be Discussed

            The town has sent notification to those citizens who applied as volunteers for the “Resident Voting Study Committee” ( aka non resident voting) advising them that State Senator John Cronin and State Representative Jim Arciero will publicly discuss this issue and other items at this Tuesday’s Select Board Meeting.  The meeting will start at 7.00PM and will be held in the town hall conference room on the second floor. The meeting is open to the public.

            The issue of non-resident voting first surfaced back in June of this year, following a presentation by Sandhya Iyer, a Westford resident and green card holder, who made the assertion that voting should be open to all residents of the town. She claimed that voting was about “diversity not citizenship”.  Her claim was challenged by several resident voters, who claimed that voting is a constitutionally protected right and is reserved only for citizens.

             The Select Board moved to refer the matter to a special “Resident Voting Study Committee”.  However, after the volunteer applications proved to be predominantly Republican, the Select Board opted to place the matter in abeyance pending an opinion from the town’s legislative delegation.  The purpose of Tuesday’s appearance is to receive their guidance on this matter.

             Also on the agenda will be a discussion of the feasibility and legality of conducting town meeting virtually.  Some have expressed interest in moving to a virtual town meeting in order to expedite town business and to reduce cost.  However, others are concerned that moving to virtual town meeting will undermine the democratic nature of town meeting and will make it vulnerable to electronic manipulation.   Come and hear for yourself.