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RESOLUTION REGARDING ELECTION DISTRICT NO. 5

↑Meetings/Resolutions/40-2020
One-time (complete)formal_resolutionone_timeThe Town Board reaffirms its request to the Dutchess County Board of Elections to locate a polling site at Bard College for Election District No. 5, citing the concentration of registered voters on or adjacent to the campus, public transportation access, handicap accessibility, and the need for adequate social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
First seen
2020-08-26
Latest event
2020-08-26
adopted
Expires
—

Resolution text

RESOLVED

  1. the Town Board of the Town of Red Hook communicate the need to locate a polling site at Bard College for safe, convenient access by the registered voters of Election District 5.
Show preamble — 13 WHEREAS clauses
  • WHEREAS, on April 12, 2016, the Town Board passed Resolution No. 29 resolved that the Town Board communicate the need to locate a polling site at Bard College in order to provide safe, convenient access by the registered voters of Election District 5 (the "2016 Resolution")
  • WHEREAS, at the time of the 2016 Resolution, Election District 5 had more than the recommended number of registered voters (1,124 vs. 950) for a single district
  • WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of voters resided at or adjacent to the Bard Campus and NYS Election Law states that the polling site should be located where the majority of voters live
  • WHEREAS, despite the Town Board's unanimous approval of the 2016 Resolution, the polling place remained at St. John's Church of Barrytown
  • WHEREAS, at the present time, the number of registered voters remains over the recommend number of registered voters (1,036 vs. 950)
  • WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of voters still resided at or adjacent to the Bard Campus
  • WHEREAS, the Bard Campus is served by the Dutchess County Loop Bus System and NYS Election Law states that the polling site should be located on a public transportation route when possible
  • WHEREAS, the Bard Campus center is handicap accessible, providing fair access to all voters
  • WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has created an additional and urgent need to provide a polling location which is large enough to accommodate the number of registered voters within Election District 5 with adequate social distancing measures and enhanced safety precautions
  • WHEREAS, the Bard Campus has a student center which can accommodate a substantially larger number of voters with adequate social distancing, including, but not limited to, the ability to have a delineated entrance and exit to avoid cross-contact of voters, a substantially larger number of restroom facilities, and a larger room to space voting booths six feet apart
  • WHEREAS, utilization of the Bard Campus would create a safer, more efficient voting experience
  • WHEREAS, Bard College has previously, and continues to offer use of its facilities for voting purposes
  • WHEREAS, sufficient space exists at Bard College to provide a safer voting experience and the ability to increase voter participation for all voters within Election District 5

Lifecycle (1 event)

2020-08-26adoptedvote: unanimous
Communicate the need to locate a polling site at Bard College for Election District No. 5.
moved by McKeon · seconded by Kane
Show text snapshot for this event
Resolved
  1. the Town Board of the Town of Red Hook communicate the need to locate a polling site at Bard College for safe, convenient access by the registered voters of Election District 5.
Whereas
  • WHEREAS, on April 12, 2016, the Town Board passed Resolution No. 29 resolved that the Town Board communicate the need to locate a polling site at Bard College in order to provide safe, convenient access by the registered voters of Election District 5 (the "2016 Resolution")
  • WHEREAS, at the time of the 2016 Resolution, Election District 5 had more than the recommended number of registered voters (1,124 vs. 950) for a single district
  • WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of voters resided at or adjacent to the Bard Campus and NYS Election Law states that the polling site should be located where the majority of voters live
  • WHEREAS, despite the Town Board's unanimous approval of the 2016 Resolution, the polling place remained at St. John's Church of Barrytown
  • WHEREAS, at the present time, the number of registered voters remains over the recommend number of registered voters (1,036 vs. 950)
  • WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of voters still resided at or adjacent to the Bard Campus
  • WHEREAS, the Bard Campus is served by the Dutchess County Loop Bus System and NYS Election Law states that the polling site should be located on a public transportation route when possible
  • WHEREAS, the Bard Campus center is handicap accessible, providing fair access to all voters
  • WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has created an additional and urgent need to provide a polling location which is large enough to accommodate the number of registered voters within Election District 5 with adequate social distancing measures and enhanced safety precautions
  • WHEREAS, the Bard Campus has a student center which can accommodate a substantially larger number of voters with adequate social distancing, including, but not limited to, the ability to have a delineated entrance and exit to avoid cross-contact of voters, a substantially larger number of restroom facilities, and a larger room to space voting booths six feet apart
  • WHEREAS, utilization of the Bard Campus would create a safer, more efficient voting experience
  • WHEREAS, Bard College has previously, and continues to offer use of its facilities for voting purposes
  • WHEREAS, sufficient space exists at Bard College to provide a safer voting experience and the ability to increase voter participation for all voters within Election District 5

Supersedes

29-2016
Subject key: election_district_5_polling_location