Polling location for precinct 3 may return to Dartmouth Bible Church

As the town election season begins to near, election day may look a little different for Precinct 3 voters, as their polling location may return to the Dartmouth Bible Church.

Four years ago, the voting location for precinct 3 was moved to the UMass Dartmouth campus as a way to try and engage more young people in the democratic process, said Town Clerk Sarah Haskell-Arruda.

"It was fantastic while it was there," Haskell-Arruda said.

Now, UMass Dartmouth officials say they no longer have the space to function as a polling location, according to Haskell-Arruda. One potential factor is the fact that the university is undergoing several construction projects.

"We are really disappointed," Haskell-Arruda said, noting that the majority of people who staffed the voting location were students, who she said "did a fantastic job."

"We never had any issues over there," she said. "They were really excited about it."

Haskell-Arruda noted that precinct 3 saw a slight increase in voter turnout when the location moved four years ago.

At a Select Board meeting on Monday, Jan. 5, Select Board members voted to set up a meeting with UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Mark Fuller to see if it's possible to continue using the university's campus as a polling location and avoid potentially confusing voters.

"Moving a location, it costs us money as a town, and it's not good for voters," Haskell-Arruda said. "Voters need to know clearly where they're voting, so we need to be very consistent."

She noted that if the polling location returns to the Dartmouth Bible Church, town residents may take the transition smoothly, although it could make it more difficult for UMass Dartmouth students to vote.

If Fuller doesn't agree to continue using UMass Dartmouth as a polling location, Haskell-Arruda said that the next "reasonable" opportunity to return to the campus would be for the 2028 election season.

"We can't be flip flopping," she said.