AMHERST — Amherst Regional High School, a site for three of the town’s 10 precincts during the state primaries and presidential election in 2020, will again be used as a polling location this fall.
The Town Council voted 11-0 last week to support the recommendation of Town Clerk Susan Audette to have those who live in Precincts 2, 4 and 10, and who will be voting in person at the Nov. 2 town election, vote at the high school.
“The high school has worked out perfectly as far as putting three (precincts) in there,” Audette said.
Audette said the high school is accessible and has plenty of well-lit parking, including handicapped spaces. In addition, no classes will be held during a scheduled professional day.
At a July meeting on the topic, At-Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke said residents seem to like the new polling locations.
“I don’t see why we need to consider this any further. We had ample discussion about it last year, and we’ve heard nothing but good about what happened last year,” she said.
Audette said her office received no complaints last year and no phone calls about any difficulties with the revised polling places.
Before the September and November 2020 voting, voters in Precinct 2 went to the North Fire Station on East Pleasant Street and those in Precincts 4 and 10 used the Bangs Community Center. Only Precinct 5 remains at the Bangs.
Audette said the fire station was a challenge, with some elections formerly set up in the kitchen, a space that was too small and also interrupted the firefighters’ workday, before moving to a garage bay that forced fire vehicles to be moved outside for the day, and which had lower air quality.
Precinct 10 was also in a less than ideal spot on the lower level of the Bangs, in a small room and only accessible by stairs or an elevator, Audette said.
“If the elevator should fail, obviously this location would not be compliant,” Audette said.
Precinct 4’s move last year came as a way to de-densify the Bangs during the pandemic.
Like Precinct 5, the remaining voting precincts are unchanged, including Precinct 1 at North Zion Korean Church, Precinct 3 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Precinct 6 at Fort River School, Precincts 7 at Crocker Farm School, Precinct 8 at Munson Memorial Library and Precinct 9 at Wildwood School.
Others showing interest in at-large seats include former School Committee member Viraphanh Douangmany-Cage of Longmeadow Drive, Robert Greeney of McClellan Street, who has also picked up forms to run for District 3, Irvin R. Rhodes of Pondview Drive, and Ellisha Walker of Autumn Lane, who has also picked up forms to run for District 5.
For the five districts, which each have two councilors, those who have gotten papers include District 1 incumbent Cathy Schoen and Michele Miller of Old Montague Road, District 2 incumbent Pat DeAngelis, District 3 incumbents Dorothy Pam and George Ryan, District 4 incumbent Evan Ross and District 5 incumbent Shalini Bahl-Milne and Ana Devlin Gauthier of Bay Road.
Only Brewer and District 1 Councilor Sarah Swartz have announced that they will not be seeking reelection.
Nomination forms are due back to the clerk’s office by Sept. 14.
