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Politics & Government

Newton Voters Could See Precinct Changes for 2012 Election

City election districts face shifts with new census numbers.

The number of city precincts and their boundaries may be altered when U.S. Census figures officially reach the city later this month -- a change that could not only affect where voters cast their ballot, but also one that could save the city roughly $13,000.

City officials, including ward aldermen and Newton Elections Commissioner Craig Manseau, met with representatives from the Massachusetts Secretary of State's office last week to go over procedures for potential redistricting.

But that all depends on what figures come down from the census, which Manseau expects will be given to the city later this month. The estimate from the state was that the city's population increased by 791 residents between 2000 and 2010, according to Manseau.

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"Ward lines historically have changed," said Ward 2 Alderman Stephen Linsky.

Once the numbers are in, aldermen in the Redistricting Committee -- lead by Alderman R. Lisle Baker -- will decide what to do with the precincts. If the census figures show big enough population shifts in specific precincts, the lines could be altered by aldermen. Any changes made will go into effect for the 2012 election.

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"We want to make sure that all of the wards are relatively the same population and within that, the precincts will be as close to as the same across the city," said Board Vice President Cheryl Lappin.

The populations of the precincts must be within five percent of each other, several aldermen noted. 

Newton currently has 31 precincts, with seven of the eight wards having four precincts and Ward 2 having three. According to Manseau, the smallest precinct (the area covering Boston College) now has 928 people. Most precincts currently have between 1,500 and 2,000 people, he said.

In addition to changing voters' polling locations, precinct changes could also eventually impact residents' state representatives. 

"Once the precincts are set, then the state is going to be setting its districts for the state legislature and the congress," Linsky noted. "A change in precinct could mean you have a different state representative."

The city could also consider reducing the number of precincts in each ward, a change that would affect the cost of an election because fewer precincts would mean fewer voting locations needed.

Manseau gave a preliminary estimate of saving $13,000 for each election for poll workers, custodians and police.

"If we go with the three precincts, of course, there is a little savings with the poll workers," Ward 3 Alderman Anthony Salvucci said. "But I don't think it's going to be such a great amount of money that we have to be concerned about (it)."

Nevertheless, Lappin said the city needed to consider the options.

"We've got to weigh the convenience of being able to get to a polling place and the money we would save in reducing the polling places," she said.

And although there will some changes, Manseau said, the shifts are not likely to "wow" anybody.

"You're not going to see huge, wholesale changes," he said. "It doesn't really work that way."

Aldermen must decide on any new voting districts by June 15. Their decision then goes to the state Local Election District Review Commission, which will approve or reject the changes by July 27. Manseau, though, said its a "very unlikely scenario" that the state would go against the city's decision, which would result in lengthening the process and further approvals by the city and state needed.

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