Precinct 9 voting location moves to Dartmouth Youth Soccer Association’s field house
Voters vote at the Council on Aging during the 2026 Annual Town Election. Photo by Kat Sheridan
Voters vote at the Council on Aging during the 2026 Annual Town Election. Photo by Kat Sheridan
Six years after the polling location for voters in Precinct 9 was moved to the Council on Aging, it will be returning to Precinct 9 for the September 1 state primary election.
Precinct 9 voters will now be voting at the Dartmouth Youth Soccer Association’s field house, located at 562 Russells Mills Road.
While the field house is located near Dartmouth High School, Town Clerk Sarah Haskell-Arruda pointed out that traffic from the high school won’t be a problem on election day because it has its own parking lot and entrance.
“The only time there ever may be a conflict is in September, but in March they’re not using those fields,” Haskell-Arruda said. “In April, they start later in the spring and in November there are no games.”
She added, “They are also willing to cancel practice for one particular day if it’s an issue.”
At a Select Board meeting on Monday, May 11, Select Board members voted to approve of the move.
“We’re really excited about the move,” Haskell-Arruda said.
At the Select Board meeting Haskell-Arruda also spoke about Precinct 3 and the effects relocating to UMass Dartmouth has had on voter turnout and the involvement of young people in politics.
During the time that Precinct 3 — which is made up of UMass Dartmouth students and some surrounding areas — was located at the Dartmouth Bible Church, only four voters came out for local elections between 2017 and 2021.
After moving to UMass Dartmouth in 2022, 192 voters have turned out.
“Not an amazing turnout, but a significant increase for the move,” Haskell-Arruda said. “It’s dramatically improved.”
She added that younger people have gotten involved since the move, with UMass Dartmouth students working at the polling location on election day.
“We are better able to promote civic engagement and education among the young voters, which I know is everybody’s concern and hope,” Haskell-Arruda said.
She said that she hadn’t expected the effect of moving from the Dartmouth Bible Church to the UMass Dartmouth campus to be “this drastic,” noting that it’s “clearly in a really good space.”
