Hingham Approves Modified Early Voting Schedule for 2024 Election
Town Clerk cites mail-in ballot popularity, office workload in proposing reduced hours for first week
HINGHAM, MA - September 17 - The Hingham Select Board approved a modified early voting schedule for the November 2024 presidential election and greenlit a $353,000 roof replacement project for the South Shore Country Club during their Sept. 17 meeting.
Town Clerk Carol Falvey proposed reducing the first week of early voting to Tuesday and Thursday only, while maintaining a full schedule for the second week. Falvey cited the need to balance voter access with other essential town services.
"We have so many people that choose to vote by mail in Hingham and also trying to balance the other services that we offer to the community," Falvey said. She noted that approximately 5,600 mail-in ballot applications have already been received, with expectations of reaching 8,000 to 9,000.
The approved schedule includes in-person early voting on Saturdays, Oct. 19 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The first week will offer voting on Tuesday, Oct. 22, and Thursday, Oct. 24, during regular business hours. The second week will maintain full hours Monday through Friday, including Friday, Nov. 1.
Falvey expressed concerns about limiting in-person voting opportunities. "I really think that it's important to prioritize accessibility of the ballot box," Falvey said. However, the modified schedule was ultimately approved in a 2-1 vote.
In other business, the board unanimously approved a $353,000 contract with Almar LLC for roof replacement at the South Shore Country Club. The project includes provisions for potential future solar panel installation, though immediate implementation is not planned.
Kevin Whalen, Executive Director of the country club, explained that making the roof fully solar-ready would require additional structural work costing about $125,000. Instead, the approved plan includes enhanced ice and water shielding and additional fastening to support future solar installation if desired.
Town Administrator Tom Mayo reported that Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant (HMLP) assessed the site as "less than optimal" for solar panels due to the east-west orientation of the roofs. "There are perhaps other roofs in town... that would be able to put, for instance, solar panels on that roof and have them be far more productive in terms of payback," Mayo said.
The roof replacement work is scheduled to begin Oct. 11, with expected completion by the end of November. Whalen assured that golf course operations should continue without significant disruption, with only minor adjustments needed for restaurant access during construction.