Myths and Facts on Question 1

On April 23rd, Wakefield will vote on Question 1, a proposed change to the Town Charter – to increase the number of signatures required to force a town-wide election to challenge a YES decision of Town Meeting voters from 200 signatures to 2.5% of registered voters (about 460 signatures). There has been a lot of misinformation spread by those who oppose the change. Here are some of the myths being discussed and the actual facts.

MYTH: Our town leaders are the one driving this change.
FACT: In fact, the idea for the Charter change came directly from residents as part of the public comment period to the Charter Review Committee over the past 2.5 years. The Committee, made up of appointed volunteers, decided to study the issue and make a recommendation. No one at Town Hall put this on their agenda. Wakefield citizens did.

MYTH: A special election does not negate a vote at Town Meeting.
FACT: According to Town Counsel Tom Mullen, a petition automatically negates the results of a vote taken at Town Meeting since the vote goes before the general population.

MYTH: The ability to force a special election can apply to any Town Meeting vote.
FACT: The referendum option only applies when there has been a YES vote at Town Meeting. There is no recourse for registered voters when there is a NO vote at Town Meeting. A NO vote is final and binding. The same people who are opposed to the change to 2.5% pushed for a NO vote when this article was proposed at Town Meeting. A no vote would have meant that those who support the issue would not have been able to petition citizens and force a special election vote.

MYTH: When collecting signatures, individuals must provide facts about the issue that would be taken to a town-wide vote.
FACT: Signature collectors can say whatever they please in order to gather signatures. This information can be blatantly false. Most recently, the group that forced a special election on the Public Safety Building (that was voted YES overwhelmingly at town meeting), claimed that the project would increase residents’ taxes. That was not the case as it was built into the town budget and did not require a debt exclusion or override.

MYTH: The referendum process will not apply to potential projects like a new high school since debt exclusions must go to a town-wide ballot anyway if passed at Town Meeting.
FACT: Any Town Meeting vote to fund a feasibility study or the design of a school building project can indeed be negated by a referendum election. The same would be true of any Town Meeting vote to fund a school improvement project that would be funded under the Town’s Debt Service Account. A successful referendum petition would negate these Town Meeting votes and force such questions to a town-wide vote.

MYTH: Increasing the referendum threshold to 2.5% is a form of voter suppression.
FACT: Voter suppression is a strategy used to influence the outcome of an election by discouraging or preventing specific groups of people from voting. Increasing the referendum threshold to 2.5% at no time prevents any of Wakefield’s 18,000+ voters from signing a referendum petitition nor from voting in any election. In fact, increasing the referendum option strengthens our democracy by protecting the will of Town Meeting voters.

MYTH: Only towns with Representative Town Meeting have referendum thresholds ranging from 3 to 10%.
FACT: Few towns with Open Town Meeting even have a referendum option after a YES vote at Town Meeting. However, one such town is Marblehead, with a threshold of 300 signatures in just 5 calendar days. Wakefield is proposing to raise the threshold to about 460 signatures (2.5% of registered voters) that can be collected in up to 12 calendar days.

MYTH: Collecting the required signatures in 12 days is just too hard and presents an insurmountable challenge.
FACT: The Town Clerk has indicated it has NEVER taken a full 10 business days for petitioners to gather signatures at the current level. Most often it takes one weekend of standing at the lake or post office. Even one of the opponents of this issue claimed he gathered over 300 signatures in lousy weather in just one day back in 2014 for the parking garage issue.

MYTH: Special elections have no adverse impact on the town’s resources.
FACT: Special elections cost money (estimated at $15,000-$18,000), time and possibly the closing or shifting of school to allow for voting at the Galvin Middle School. Special elections should indeed be special – and therefore should require a more sensible and pragmatic, yet still attainable standard, in order for one to be held.

According to the town’s Charter Review Committee, “Attempting to void a democratic decision made by Town Meeting voters is a momentous action, and should be undertaken only in exceptional circumstances. Reversing a Town Meeting vote violates the sovereignty and undermines the authority of this legislative branch. By challenging Town Meeting results, we run the risk of undermining citizen engagement at Town Meeting, and discouraging citizens from serving their chartered role as citizen-legislators.”

Vote YES on Question 1 on Tuesday, April 23rd at the Galvin Middle School!