Voter interest during Tuesday’s state primary election may center as much on voting mechanics as on political candidates, as Norwood rolls out a new computerized voting system.
Computerized Punch-Card System Trial
Voters across all precincts will utilize a new punch-card ballot format paired with computerized counting provided as a public service by Factory Mutual Engineering Company.
Trained demonstrators will be stationed at every precinct to instruct voters on how to record their choices by inserting a punch card into a specialized machine and marking selections with a stylus. Written instructional directions will also be posted clearly on each voting machine.
A similar computerized setup tested several years ago met with mixed reviews, primarily due to insufficient instructions provided to voters and election workers. According to the town clerk’s office, once precinct ballots are processed through the computer on election night, physical copies of the results will be transported directly to the town hall and posted for public inspection, as no results will be available at the computer center itself.
Town Clerk and Accountant Robert Thornton initiated the modernized voting system after supervising his first election last spring and concluding that traditional paper ballots and manual hand-counting resulted in unacceptable all-night delays for final vote tabulations.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More…
-
Republican Lee Says He’ll Challenge Romney-July 9, 2005
Discover the 2005 campaign launch of Norwood’s own Gary M. Lee, who aimed to bring his 17 years of municipal experience to the Massachusetts State House.
-
House Candidates Campaign at Nahatan Village Ahead of September 15 Primary-August 26, 1992
Democratic primary candidates for state representative John Rogers, John Lydon, and Helen Abdallah Donohue squared off at a Nahatan Village forum governed by new Norwood Housing Authority rules.
-
Mitch Pentowski Announces 1992 Republican Bid for Norwood House Seat-September 5, 1991
School Committee member and local insurance broker Joseph “Mitch” Pentowski announced yesterday that he will enter the 1992 Republican primary race for state representative, marking a shift from his lifelong status as an independent voter to join the GOP by the end of the week. Pentowski, 61, described his conversion to the Republican Party as…
-
Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Steven Pierce Outlines Economic Plan to Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce-September 12, 1990
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steven Pierce outlines his small-business platform to the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce at Concannon’s Village.
-
Norwood Voters to Test Computerized Punch-Card Ballots in State Primary Election-September 12, 1980
Norwood voters will use a new computerized punch-card ballot system provided by Factory Mutual Engineering Company for the upcoming state primary election.
-
Town Officials Warn of Disastrous Cuts from Proposed Proposition 2 1/2-August 20, 1980
Facing a potential $3 million budget shortfall, Norwood town officials are mobilizing an educational campaign to warn residents about the severe municipal cuts threatened by Proposition 2 1/2.
-
League of Women Voters Urges High Turnout for School Committee Recall Election-August 30, 1978
The League of Women Voters calls on Norwood residents to vote in Tuesday’s historic school committee recall election, the first in 30 years.
-
State Rep Gregory W. Sullivan Faces Democratic Primary Election Challenge-August 21, 1978
Incumbent State Rep. Gregory W. Sullivan faces a Democratic primary challenge from political newcomer William J. McCarthy in the newly formed 12th Norfolk District covering Norwood and Westwood.
-
Citizens’ Group Keeps Recall Threat “On Hold” Awaiting Action on Civic Center Replacement-September 9, 1977
Opposition leaders Ambrose J. Kelly and Jeannette M. Troiano state that a recall petition drive against Norwood selectmen remains an active option if replacement Civic Center plans stall.
-
Charles Strumski Retains Norwood Conservation Seat-August 17, 1977
Despite being denied reappointment by the town manager, veteran official Charles Strumski continues to serve the Norwood Conservation Commission.
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.