YORK, Maine — Town officials are suggesting residents concerned about voting irregularities arising from the results of Question 2 on the May 21 school budget ballot to mount a petition seeking a recount — but cautioned that time is of the essence as any petition has to be turned in by end of day next Tuesday.
Town Clerk Mary-Anne Szeniawski has also agreed to prepare a detailed report “that documents the procedures used and the problems experienced, along with proposed steps to be taken to prevent future recurrence of such problems to the greatest extent possible,” said Town Manager Steve Burns.
Meanwhile, the School Committee is expected to weigh in on this issue when it meets next Wednesday, June 1.
Szeniawski said earlier this week that due to human error, the single-sheet school budget validation ballot was inadvertently left out of 100 absentee ballot packages. She said she was able to account for all but 22 of them, fewer than the 29-vote difference between the yes and no votes on Question 2.
The question asked if voters wanted to keep the school budget validation “town meeting” (yes) or return to the town charter form of budgeting (no). The no votes prevailed by a vote of 1,797 to 1,768.
Town Manager Steve Burns, selectmen chairman and vice chairman Robert Palmer and Jon Speers and Szeniawski met Thursday morning to discuss what they all saw as a continuing concern by some residents for the town to act in some way, said Palmer.
“We want to make sure the voters understand the process under state law for a recount and what their rights are moving forward,” he said.
Under state law, “a recount must be granted upon written application of 10 percent or 100, whichever is less, of the persons whose names were checked on the voting list at any town referendum or ballot question.” That petition has to be turned in within five working days of the date Szeniawski certified the ballot. With the holiday, that gives residents until Tuesday to get the signatures in.
“The Board of Selectmen and even the town clerk herself have no authority to initiate a recount,” said Burns. “This request, if it contains enough signatures and is delivered within the correct timeframe, is the only means of obtaining a recount.”
Resident Susan Christmas, who spearheaded a letter to the School Committee asking members to look into the problem, said Thursday that immediately upon hearing about the recount petition Thursday, resident began gathering signatures.
“A recount is a show of good faith by the town, and we really do appreciate that,” she said. She said she anticipates “no problem whatsoever” delivering 100 signatures to the Town Hall by the end of the day Tuesday.
But it is equally important to her and others in town that there be an investigation into what went wrong.
“Jon and I asked Mary-Anne to put together a report that also identifies what she needs to improve this process, especially given her limited space,” said Palmer. Szeniawski told selectmen earlier this week that the problem arose because at the same time absentee ballot envelopes were being filled, the office received supplies for the Maine June primary and the federal November election. Due to space constraints, she said she must not have repositioned the absentee ballot boxes correctly afterward.
“Protecting the integrity of our voting process is paramount,” said Burns. “Whether there is a recount or not, it is vital that the problem be documented and understood, and that steps be taken to prevent recurrence in the future.”
The report is expected to be delivered to selectmen at their June 27 meeting.
Christmas said she just learned Thursday afternoon that Szeniawski was preparing a report. She said she does not know if her group will want to take further steps, such as requesting an independent investigation. Palmer said, “even if we do that, the first step is a written report from her.”
Szeniawski said she understands voters’ concerns.
“It happened under my watch and that’s the way it is. I have a responsibility to answer questions of voters because I take this position very seriously,” she said.
Superintendent Debra Dunn said she did expect Christmas’ letter to the School Committee, which was signed by 149 people, to be brought up at the next committee meeting.
“We want to be sensitive to the concerns of people. But it’s really not up to the School Committee to take steps. The selectmen have purview” she said.