Information about 2022 Town Meeting
Dear Lyme Residents –
Lyme’s annual Town Meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at the Lyme School Gym/Community Room.
Town Meeting consists of two parts: Official Ballot voting for Town and School District officers, and the Business Meeting to discuss, debate and vote on Town Warrant articles. Here are the details for 2022:
Official Ballot Voting – This is “Article 1” on the official Town Warrant. Voting occurs by secret ballot from 7 AM – 7 PM. You must be a Lyme resident and registered voter in order to vote (same-day registration information below). Official Ballot voting will take place at the West end of the Gym/Community Room. Voters will enter the school through the main entrance, then down the hall to enter the gym through the second door (by the climbing wall). Signs will guide you. You will check in with a ballot clerk, show your photo ID, receive two ballots (one for Town officers, one for School District officers), vote, then return your ballots to the check-out table and ballot boxes. After voting, you will leave the Gym the same way you came in.
Business Meeting – This will be an in-person gathering to discuss, debate and vote on Articles 2 – 16 on the official Town Warrant. The meeting will take place in the main portion of the Gym/Community Room, beginning at 9 AM. You must be a Lyme resident and registered voter in order to participate and vote (same-day registration information below). You will enter the school through the main door, then into the gym. You will check in with the ballot clerks and receive your Yes-No voting cards. You do NOT need to present a photo ID to check in for the Business Meeting (ONLY for Official Ballot voting).
Same-Day Voter Registration – The Supervisors of the Checklist will be in session at Town Meeting to register Lyme residents who have not yet registered to vote. The Supervisor’s table will be in the entrance lobby, just inside the main door to the school. You will need to present a photo ID and proof of Lyme residency. https://sos.nh.gov/elections/voters/register-to-vote/at-the-polls-on-election-day/
Masking and COVID Precautions – Plans for Town Meeting are informed by information provided by both the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the NH Department of Health and Human Services (COVID-19 Pandemic, Update #57 – Updated Face Mask and COVID-19 Guidance). By the CDC criteria at this time, COVID infections in our area remain high. Given the available information and guidance, the Lyme election team has decided to strongly recommend wearing a face mask during Town Meeting. Please consider the health and safety of all of our neighbors when deciding whether or not to wear a mask. Other logistics for the Business meeting:
- Chairs in the Gym will be arranged to enable social distancing.
- The Lyme Church is providing several HEPA filter units, which will be placed around the Gym.
- We will limit announcements and other business to keep the meeting as short as possible.
- There will be no food or beverage service, and no ‘staffed’ info tables inside school.
- The Lyme Foundation WILL present the “Lyme Citizen of the Year” award.
Absentee Ballots – Voters may request an absentee ballot for the “Official Ballot” portion of Town Meeting. Please contact the Town Clerk’s office (603-795-2535) to request an absentee ballot. For voting on Articles 2 – 16, you must be present at the Business Meeting on March 8th in order to vote.
We ask for your cooperation, consideration and patience as we work together to conduct the Town’s business in a civil, respectful and safe manner. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, March 8th.
Sincerely,
Kevin Peterson, Town Moderator
Judy Brotman, Select Board Chair
Patty Jenks, Town Clerk
Margaret Caudill-Slosberg, Emergency Management Director