Remote voting devices will not be used at Rochester Town Meeting
The Town of Rochester received remote voting devices from an donor. File photo
The Town of Rochester received remote voting devices from an donor. File photo
ROCHESTER — Despite the anonymous donation of 400 remote voting devices, voting at the Monday, May 18 Town Meeting will still be done the old-fashioned way.
Moderator David Arancio decided not to use the devices, citing a lack of training and a need for more information. Instead, voters will raise a paper card to cast their vote as usual.
Rochester received about $18,000 worth of technology for use at Town Meeting, made up of devices that operate on radio frequency and send a signal to a computer with software to count the number of votes.
Arancio is responsible for making relevant decisions about how Town Meeting is conducted, and said the upcoming meeting is not the time to implement the new devices.
“As moderator, I do not believe that this Annual Town Meeting is the best training ground for that clicker system,” he said.
He said he doesn’t want a meeting with so many things to vote on to be the first time the system is used.
While Meridian, the company that produces the devices, offered to attend Town Meeting for four hours to assist with implementation, Arancio said he’d be more comfortable conducting training beforehand.
It is uncertain if or when the devices may be used in the future, but if they are Arancio said it would likely be at a smaller Special Town Meeting.
