Swampscott Election Review Committee Formed After Town Meeting Shift

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott is seeking residents from each of the town's six precincts, including two students ages 16 or 17, to take part in the Election Review Committee that was created through a vote of the special town meeting earlier this week.

(Also on Patch: Swampscott Pickleball Grant Proposal Fails Second Town Meeting Vote)

Select Board member Peter Spellios had proposed sweeping changes to the town elections in a warrant article that would have moved the date of the annual town election to June, mandated early voting for all elections, created a minimum vote total for town meeting members to be elected, and endorsed the inclusion of 16- and 17-year-olds in town election votes if a provision allowing that passes the state legislature.

But the article was pulled shortly before Monday's special town meeting, and in its place, the outline of an election review committee to study the proposed changes — and anything else election-related deemed helpful to increasing voter engagement — and report back to the Select Board by Oct. 31.

The committee will also include a member from the Select Board, School Committee, Swampscott for All Ages, and Commission on Disability.

The application deadline is April 15.

Those interested in being considered for the committee can fill out the application here and select "Town Election Review Committee" in the final step of the application.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)