EASTHAMPTON — Opponents of the city’s $6.9 million Proposition 2½ override are seeking a hand recount of Tuesday’s special election, citing concerns about the handling of mail-in ballots after the measure passed by 239 votes.
The override was the only question on the ballot, passing with 3,312 “yes” votes to 3,073 “no” votes, with a total of 6,385 cast, according to unofficial results. The results are counted by voting machines for each of the five city precincts.
Members of the Easthampton Republican City Committee and Easthampton Active Citizens are requesting a hand count of all ballots cast, claiming there were issues with the distribution, handling and processing of mail-in ballots in the election.
“We are formally requesting a hand count of all ballots cast,” the groups wrote in an email to city officials Wednesday morning. “We believe this count should be conducted in the presence of representatives from each major political party, as well as members of the Board of Registrars, to ensure transparency and public confidence in the process.”
The request was emailed to the offices of the mayor and city clerk at about 10 a.m. Wednesday by Republican City Committee Chairwoman Cathy Wauczinski, who also co-founded Easthampton Active Citizens. Wauczinski led a campaign urging residents to vote against the override before Tuesday’s election.
In addition to Wauczinski, the email was signed by committee Secretary Mary Ellen DiLuzio; and citizens group members Laura Cunha, Geoff Martin and Darlene Orvieto.
However, Mayor Salem Derby said the email alone is unlikely to trigger a recount. Municipalities with more than 2,500 voters require a recount petition signed by at least 10 registered voters from each precinct and filed within 10 days of the election, according to the Massachusetts Elections Division.
If that happens, Derby said it is unlikely that the recount would change enough votes to overturn the election results. The city has reached out to the Elections Division and its attorney for additional guidance.
“I don’t think it would” overturn the results, Derby said. “It’s not like it’s Hadley and it passed by 12 votes.”
In an interview, Wauczinski claimed that a number of residents who requested mail-in ballots prior to the election either didn’t get them in the mail or received an empty envelope.
“My question is, how many people that wanted to vote didn’t get to vote?” Wauczinski said.
The email continues, “Taken together with concerns surrounding errors with the election last fall, these issues raise serious questions regarding the integrity of the election process and whether the election can be considered valid without a thorough review.”
If the ballots are not recounted by hand, the request asks that the results be nullified and a reelection be held. Wauczinski said that the main goal of the request is to ensure that the city has a transparent and accurate election process. She also has concerns about the municipal election in November last year.
“I think that the city does a great job running elections,” Derby said. “We’re lucky to have a lot of hard-working city election workers and I have confidence in them.”
Wauczinski said that throughout the campaign against the override and after talking to people at the polls on Tuesday, it became clear how many residents would be negatively impacted with raising property taxes.
“There are people who are talking about leaving town who can’t afford this. People who are talking about not being able to buy medicine for their cancer treatment,” Wauczinski said. “It’s not about the money. For many that are fighting this (override) it’s about those that can’t fight for themselves.”
