Voter Challenges –  Finally Over –  and it is good news for part-timers.   Since our last report an aded four voters were challenged, raising the total challenges to 70.

As we reported previously, 66 new voters were challenged in the Fall 2023.  Three established voters (registered before May 2023) – all Truro town appointed or elected officials – and the spouse of one who was in a “split” voter household (where one spouse was registered to vote in another Town)   were also challenged in October but only heard on April 16.  In the final set of four, all voters registrations were upheld.

In combination, of those who chose to defend their registrations, 88% were deemed to have valid voter registrations. They will be able to vote at STM and ATM in May and in elections in May and June.

None of the criteria used to target the first set of challenged part-timers held up to scrutiny of the second set in any consistent way.   Indeed, what was cast as a potential criminal activity by the Town was found to be unremarkable in the second set of hearings.

What does this mean for part-timers?  According to the State Elections Commission, the Sec’y of State’s office, and legal advice we have obtained – but most centrally –  affirmed by decisions of the Board of Registrars, part-timers are eligible to vote on this basis:

• Foremost, in MA, any person can register to vote in the Town where they live. For voting purposes this means “home – the center of their civic, social and domestic life.” This includes part-timers who can truthfully say Truro is “home” as of the time of registration. Like any new voter, they have time to establish confirming credentials thereafter.  That means, like a new home buyer, if their intention is to make Truro home, that position is “to be honored” according to the Courts.  If that changes, it would require change voter registration at that time.
• Second, part-timers are “actual residents” of Truro and if Truro is declared “home” they can choose to register to vote in Truro.
• Third, voters can have more than one residence, but only one “domicile” or home. That means you cannot vote anywhere else. In MA, we can vote where “home” is.
• Fourth, Massachusetts does not require any minimum time in a town in order to register to vote.  For snow birders, part-timers, college students, folks working for military, professional or other reasons whose work requires them to be elsewhere –  time out of Truro does not bar registration to vote in Truro.
• Very little information is required to register – name, age, and confirmation of US citizenship, residency in Massachusetts, and that one is not incarcerated for a felony. That’s it.

Based in part on the results of the challenges to voters heard in November 2023 and April 2024, other “indicators” or criteria were effectively deemed not to be determinative by the Board of Registrars. For example, Residential Tax Exemptions filed in another town, personal property tax paid in Truro, excise taxes paid out of Truro, even mailing addresses outside of Truro were not disqualifying factors.

That said, to register to vote is a declaration of intention that Truro is “home”, and it has to accompanied with evidence that shows the voter meant it – so at some point, actions are necessary to show the intent is meaningfully reflected in behavior.

The bottom line: Truro residents who can declare Truro “home” in good faith and intention have until May 18^th if they want to register to vote in Truro Town elections.  This is not right for everyone, but if it is appropriate for your circumstances, consider your options.

Once again, TPRTA’s actions to encourage interested eligible part-timers to vote is affirmed as lawful, accurate and properly executed and our efforts to protect voting rights validated.