At the most recent Londonderry Town Council meeting, members discussed the possibility of adding more polling locations for future elections.
The conversation was prompted by a resident’s request and sponsored by Town Councilor Deb Paul.
In preparation for the discussion, Town Moderator Jonathan Kipp and Town Clerk Sherry Farrell conducted research on the topic.
According to a memo they shared, the governing statute for polling locations is NH RSA 658, which outlines several key requirements:
- Adding or removing polling locations requires voter approval
- A unique district must be established for each polling location
- Voters are assigned to, and must vote at, their designated polling place
- All locations must be used for all elections
- Election officials are required at each location
Kipp noted that Londonderry currently has one of the largest single polling locations in the state.
He explained that under state law, once a decision is made to open additional polling places, “we have no flexibility – we have to use them for every election.” This means voters would be permanently assigned to specific locations for all elections, including both local and federal contests.
Farrell added that the Secretary of State’s office advises communities to take their time before making such a decision. She pointed out that Derry, for example, recently consolidated its multiple polling locations into a single site.
One concern raised during the meeting was the potential cost of adding more locations. Kipp acknowledged that additional equipment would be needed to address issues like long lines, but said no budgeting has been done yet. He also mentioned the need for more public safety personnel and election officials if multiple sites were used.
Councilor Paul suggested looking into how other towns have handled similar changes. She said that while it may not ultimately be necessary, it could be a worthwhile service to help reduce wait times during elections.
Kipp added that if the town does move forward, it might make sense to consider three or even four polling locations.
“I think this was a good dialogue,” Paul said, reflecting on the discussion.
Kipp agreed, saying they can follow up with other communities as they continue to explore the idea.
The next Town Council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 6 at 6 p.m.