SPRINGFIELD — The City Council approved an ordinance Monday that, if funded, will result in postcard notices being mailed to all Springfield voters ahead of municipal elections in hopes of encouraging higher voter turnout.
The council voted 11-2 in favor of the Municipal Election Notification ordinance.
Under the ordinance, registered voters will receive a city notice no later than 20 days prior to a municipal election that will include the date of the election, the polling location of the household, and the elective offices that will appear on the ballot.
The lead sponsor, Councilor Jesse Lederman, said he hopes that the notification and related measures by the Election Office will help boost traditionally dismal voter turnout in Springfield.
Lederman argued the cost is not great — estimated at $13,000 per election. The annual cost might be approximately $26,000 when combining the cost of the preliminary election in September and a final election in November every other year when city elections are conducted.
A proposal to also send robocalls to all voters was removed from the ordinance by Lederman after some members raised concerns that it would be a nuisance.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said Tuesday he had not yet received the ordinance proposal but has some initial concerns. Funds for the cost would need to be approved by the mayor and council.
There is no simple answer to improving voter turnout, and the proposal for mailings leads to "a lot of unanswered questions and 'aren't candidates supposed to do this?'" Sarno said.
Councilors Timothy Ryan and Kateri Walsh voted against the ordinance. Ryan said he does not believe there is evidence the notification would significantly boost turnout, and Walsh suggested it be a pilot program by the state.
Councilor Tracye Whitfield said Springfield is known as a "city of firsts," and could be the first to launch the election notification program, serving as a model for other communities.
The ordinance also calls for the Election Office to place signs on the day of the election at the closest intersection to a polling location. The signs would include the message of “VOTE TODAY,” the ordinance states.
The council added that special local referendum elections would also involve postcard notices.