BOSTON — Boston’s election procedures are set for a significant revision following an investigation by the Massachusetts secretary of state’s office. This action comes after reports surfaced that certain city precincts did not have enough printed ballots readily available on Election Day. On Monday, Secretary of State William Galvin announced that while Boston did initially have a sufficient number of ballots for November, the distribution to numerous precincts ahead of time was inadequate. According to state election regulations, there must be a ballot available for each voter.
Rebecca Murray, the general counsel to the secretary of the commonwealth, compiled the investigation report and concluded that the lack of ballots led to unnecessary and unacceptable voting delays for Boston voters. In certain instances, voters faced disfranchisement due to their inability to wait for ballots. The report highlighted a failure in ensuring enough ballot supply at the right places.
Boston, which relies solely on paper ballots, intended to supply a quantity equivalent to 80% of registered voters in each precinct. However, a miscalculation resulted in fewer ballots being dispatched. Furthermore, insufficient communication between the city and polling stations worsened the issue. Murray’s findings pointed out that Boston Election Department’s lack of real-time communication with each precinct hindered their ability to prioritize locations most in need of ballots or additional resources.
Boston’s Mayor, Michelle Wu, acknowledged the severity of the oversight and stated the city has been working with Galvin’s office to implement corrective measures and prevent future occurrences. Wu emphasized efforts to update the office, aiming to develop a system that ensures the Election Department can effectively handle queries and requests from poll workers and voters alike.
“This was a regrettable error concerning ballot availability, and it goes against one of government’s central duties — conducting free and fair elections,” Wu remarked to the press. Galvin has mandated adjustments in the city’s election practices so that they align with state laws. To assist with these improvements, he has appointed an individual to oversee changes through 2026. Additionally, Galvin called for the development of a comprehensive plan to facilitate real-time communication between the city and poll workers during elections.
The city is also required to assemble a dedicated team to connect with polling stations on Election Days to address potential issues, including voting machine malfunctions and ballot shortages. Improved training for poll workers on handling issues such as ballot shortages is also necessary, according to the report’s conclusions.
