Dalton Mail-In Ballot Instructions Had Date Error

DALTON, Mass. — Town voters started receiving mail-in ballots yesterday for the upcoming special election but were surprised to find an error. 

 

The ballots had printed instructions to have them returned to the town by Nov. 5, 2024, information left behind from the general election in November. 

 

The special election to decide who will fill the vacant Select Board seat will occur on Feb. 3. 

In December, the board also approved mail-in ballots. 

 

Select Board member Marc Strout took to his Select Board Facebook page to inform constituents of the error and provide an update. 

 

He explained that Chair Robert Bishop, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson, and Town Clerk Heather Hunt had been notified, and the situation had been referred to the town attorney.

 

"It is the Town Clerk, which is an elected position, responsibility to make sure all information is correct so that we can have a proper election ... I will advise when I have more information. I am extremely frustrated at this developing situation," he wrote on the page. 

 

As soon she found out about the situation on Saturday, Hunt and her assistant Patty Mele-Nichols went to the Town Hall to rectify the situation.