MA State Distribution of Ballot Boxes/Counting Devices for Nov. 2014
| Submitted | Oct. 9, 2014 |
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Communications
From: Beryl Lipton
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:
• The list of ballot boxes/counting devices distributed/intended to be distributed for use to each city/town/municipality on Election Day 2014. Please include, if available, the type of equipment, the number of ballot boxes/counting devices, the division, and the precinct. As indicated by G.L. c. 54 §26, "The state secretary shall, at the expense of the commonwealth, provide every city and town for use at every precinct or division of a precinct therein under the provisions of section seven A with a state ballot box approved by the state secretary in accordance with section thirty-two."
• Any such similar documents detailing ballot box/counting device distribution for the year 2012
• Any such similar documents detailing ballot box/counting device distribution for the year 2010
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Beryl Lipton
From: Murray, Rebecca (SEC)
Good Afternoon Ms. Lipton,
This Office has received your request dated October 9, 2014 for records relating to ballot boxes/counting devices intended to be distributed for use by the municipalities. Specifically, you are requesting: 1) the list of ballot boxes/counting devices distributed/intended to be distributed for use to each city/town/municipality on Election Day 2014; 2) any such similar documents detailing ballot box/counting device distribution for the year 2012; and 3) any such similar documents detailing ballot box/counting device distribution for the year 2010.
In your request, you reference state ballot boxes which are required by G.L. 54, § 26 to be provided by the Secretary of the Commonwealth to every city and town. These ballot boxes required to be provided by statute refer only to ballot boxes for use in paper ballot communities for hand counting only. This Office did not receive any requests for ballot boxes in the years 2010, 2012, or 2014, consequently, no records responsive to this portion of the request exist.
Attached, please find a lists of voting equipment in use in the Commonwealth in the years 2012 and 2014. Also attached is a shipping log which contains information about the voting equipment in use in the Commonwealth in the year 2010.
All fees relating to the provision of these records have been waived. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Rebecca S. Murray
Assistant Director/Associate Legal Counsel
NVRA Coordinator
Elections Division
One Ashburton Place, Room 1705
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
Phone: 617-727-2828
Fax: 617-742-3238
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