Tellers and ballot counters are needed for the Concord Annual Town Meeting on Sunday, September 13, 2020 at 1 pm (rain date: Monday, September 14, 2020 at 5:00 pm).

Tellers are responsible for counting standing votes (as opposed to secret ballots) and collecting secret ballots. If you can walk around and count, you have the skills necessary to be a teller. Tellers work in pairs, and a new teller is always paired with an experienced one in order to help them learn the job.

Ballot counters are responsible for counting the marks in the yes and no boxes for a secret ballot. Counters sit in chairs most of the time during the count. The last secret ballot happened in 2013, but counters are needed at every Town Meeting so that we are ready for another. If there is a secret ballot, the ballot supervisors will train the counters and guide them throughout the process.

The other qualifications for either position are a willingness to commit to remain to the very end of the session that day and a commitment to fair and transparent democracy.

This year, additional precautions will be taken to maintain social distancing. Masks will be worn at all times. The town will provide disposable gloves for tellers and counters.

If you are interested in being either a teller or ballot counter for the Concord Annual Town Meeting on September 13, or would like more information to help you decide, please contact one of these individuals:

Abraham Fisher: abrahamfisher@mac.com (Head Teller)
David Karr: karr@post.harvard.edu (Ballot Supervisor)
Richard Wells: raw@lawsbrook.org (Deputy Ballot Supervisor)