Politics & Government

Polling Place Switch: Oakdale School Out, Middle School In

Precincts 4 and 6 will vote at the Dedham Middle School in four elections in 2012.

Dedham voters in Precincts 4 and 6 will have a new place to cast their ballots in the four elections in 2012.

Town Clerk Paul Munchbach presented his plan to the Board of Selectmen Thursday, and they agreed, to move the two precincts from to .

"We identified probably a location that seems to have the most concerns when talking with the police and the chief," Munchbach said. "A lot of it has to do with the traffic flow on Cedar Street and Madison Street."

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The move will allow for better parking for voters and easier access, while making for few disruptions to the school, Munchbach said.

He added that students will not be in school for two of the elections. The town election falls on a Saturday, and the school will hold a professional development day on the date of the presidential election, Munchbach said.

Find out what's happening in Dedhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"You and others have done their due dilligence to find a place that is safe and handicap accessible, and unfortunately we don't have many buildings in town," said selectmen chair Jim MacDonald.

The town will reach out to voters in those precincts by sending out a mailing twice and during a "Town Hall to Your Neighborhood" meeting later this month.

Election officials looked at holding it at the , but it didn't receive a recommendation from the Commission on Disability.

"There are a lot of unique corners to the building, which in a big election might make the [foot] traffic flow a bit tough," Munchbach said.


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