Letterie Proposes Moving Polls Back to the Old Middle School

Precinct 2 Councilor James Letterie wants the town to look at moving the polling places back to the old

middle school on Pauline Street.

“I think it should be discussed. We had a system for many years and we don’t use the middle school to its potential anymore,” Letterie said, adding he also wants the School Committee involved because currently the polling places, except for Precinct 4, are at the high school and the Cummings School.

“Every time we have an election then we have no school. They have to work a 180-day schedule,” Letterie said at last Tuesday’s Town Council meeting. “Personally I like the voting at the middle school.”

Accessibility, electrical demand and WiFi are a few of concerns, but as Letterie pointed out that four years ago there was $400,000 put in the section of the building that voting was held in. He questioned if the building is suitable for current use.

“I’m assuming its handicap accessible since we had children there,” Letterie said.

He also hopes that the town decides soon what to do the old middle school.

According to his constituents, there seems to be a lot of people that thought the location and the parking worked better at the middle school.

“It also allows us to keep school open,” Letterie said.

Town Clerk Carla Vitale said they will work with any location chosen. She said there is a potential to have 6,000 voters using the location for Precincts 1, 2 and 5.

“In my opinion, I don’t think it’s a great idea,” she said.

The current polling places in Winthrop are:

Precinct 1

Winthrop High School 400 Main St.

Precinct 2

Arthur T. Cummings School 40 Hermon St. – enter in the back on School Street

Precinct 3

Winthrop High School 400 Main St..

Precinct 4

O’Connell Hall on Golden Drive

Precinct 5

Arthur T. Cummings School 40 Hermon St. – enter in the back on School Street.

Precinct 6

Winthrop High School 400 Main St.