ROCHESTER — At a special video conference call meeting on March 26, the Rochester Board of Selectmen voted to postpone the April 8 annual town election due to coronavirus concerns. Selectmen did not set another date, but have a deadline to hold elections before the end of June 2020, and will make the exact date clear 20 days in advance. 

The board said there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Rochester at this time.

Voter registration will close 10 days before the election date and the Board of Registrars will hold registration sessions on the last day of registration for at least two hours from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m.

Absentee ballots cast prior to the April 8 election will count in the later election. 

Absentee ballots will be accepted until noon one business day before the election.

Any incumbent elected official whose term would otherwise expire after the town election will continue to serve in their position until a successor is elected and qualified.

“Everybody is doing a really good job of taking care of this town,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman Paul Ciaburri, of the response to the spread of the virus. 

Town hall will be closed until April 7 per Gov. Baker’s orders and town employees will be working remotely until that time.