By Catherine Twing, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – The Marlborough City Clerk’s office is gearing up for a busy election season which includes a polling place change for Ward 5 residents.
Ward 5 voters will no longer cast their ballot at the Senior Center and will now vote at the Masonic Lodge (8 Newton St. Marlborough).
Voters in Ward 3 Precinct 1 and Ward 4 will continue voting at the Senior Center. The hope is the movement of Ward 5 voters will ease parking issues, traffic and long lines which have become a challenge in recent elections.
“Voter turnout ticked-up and we thought moving them over to the Senior Center was a long term solution, but turns out it wasn’t, so we had to make a change,” said Marlborough City Clerk Steven Kerrigan.
Ward 5 residents will receive a letter informing them of the change, but anyone unsure of their polling location or voter registration status can check on the city’s website or call the City Clerk’s office.
The City is also in need of election workers to assist with the March 3 Presidential Primary Election.
“We’re in need of inspectors, and also wardens and clerks,” Kerrigan said. “We need people to help run elections efficiently and effectively.”
A warden is the chief election official for that particular precinct. They oversee that precinct for the day, oversee the clerk and election workers, and at night help close up. The clerk assists the warden and maintains a clerk’s record.
Inspectors, often referred to as checkers, are the ones who find voters on the list, hand out ballots and check out voters.
Each position comes with a stipend and no prior experience is needed. Wardens and Clerks receive training prior to Election Day, but inspectors will learn on the job.
Inspectors work roughly a six hour shift, and wardens and clerks work the entire Election Day.
“We would encourage and hope that Marlborough residents would come out, but you don’t need to be a resident,” Kerrigan said. “It’s a nice gig for someone who is retired and looking for something to do, a little extra cash. It’s a great opportunity.”
Anyone interested in applying can visit the city of Marlborough’s website.
Deadline to register to vote in the March 3 primary in Massachusetts is February 12. The City Clerk’s office will be open until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12 to assist with last minute registrations and changes.
Absentee ballots can be requested up until the day before the election, but be sure to request your ballot as soon as possible in order for your ballot to be received and returned by Election Day.