By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
12/3/09
Although the town has many things on its plate that are causing financial anxiety, paying for the upcoming special election to decide the late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s replacement won’t be one of them. According to the town clerk’s office, the state is appropriating its own funds to cover the primary and the final election, which will be held Dec. 8 and Jan. 19, respectively. “It is a state mandate. We are acting with the understanding that the state would pay for this,” Town Clerk James Mullen Jr. told the Times. “However, for right now, we still have to pay the bills.”
The clerk’s office last week was already handling payment of bills for the special state primary, which according to Mullen will cost the town around $23,000. That figure, coupled with the final election in January is expected to have otherwise cost the town up to $50,000, he said.
The clerk’s office is only budgeted for three elections next year, including the April town election, September primary and November state election, Mullen said.
Although there are eight candidates to fill the senate seat vacated by Kennedy’s death in late August – six Democrats, two Republicans and two independents – Mullen said he doesn’t see the interest among town voters for January’s special election. He predicts a 35 percent voter turnout on primary day next week.
“And maybe not even that. It’s a sleepy issue in town,” he said.
However, Mullen admits that this particular election will be hard to judge because of the special circumstances.
“We’ve never really done anything like this before,” he said.
He could only compare it to another election of an extraordinary nature. On Sept. 11, 2001, the same day the nation was under attack from terrorists, a special election was held in which state Sens. Brian Joyce and Stephen Lynch, among others, battled for the 9th Congressional seat, the seat Lynch ultimately won.
At that election, according to Mullen, 53 percent of town voters turned out.
“I wouldn’t bet on that happening again,” he said.
The eight candidates for senate are Democrats Michael Capuano, Martha Coakley, Alan Khazei and Stephen Pagliuca, Republicans Jack E. Robinson III and Scott P. Brown and independents William S. Coleman and Joseph L. Kennedy (no relation to the late senator’s family).
The town clerk’s office offers absentee ballots to voters who are unable to vote at the polls on election day due to absence from town, physical disabilities or religious beliefs. The absentee voting takes place prior to the election until Dec. 7 at noon.
Residents can apply prior to Dec. 7 through the official application form or any form of written communication. Included on the application must be registered name and address. Also included must be the address for the form to be mailed and a signature. Illegal absentee voting, including making false applications, is punishable by a fine of up to $500 and up to one year in prison.
The town clerk’s office is located at Town Hall, 525 Canton Ave., and can be reached by phone at (617) 898-4859. Office hours are weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.