By Theresa Knapp 

Hopedale voters will be able to vote in the town’s annual election on May 10, 2022, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Draper Gym. 

At its meeting on Feb. 14, the Select Board voted unanimously to reinstate the pre-pandemic voting hours that span the second Tuesday in May. 

At a previous meeting when the board considered decreasing the hours, Chair Brian Keyes said the decreased hours during COVID-19 had “been enough to accommodate folks” and said voter turnout had been less than 8 percent. 

Selectperson Glenda Hazard said, “I hate to cut voting hours, I see the next election that we’re having as being pretty important,” and said reinstating the full-day voting hours is important because alternative voting mechanisms that had been allowed during the pandemic, such as early voting and mail-in ballots, will not be available this year. 

Absentee ballots will be available, as in the past, but under certain circumstances such as the voter is in the military, is a town citizen residing overseas, is incarcerated (but not for a felony conviction), has been admitted to a healthcare facility within seven days of the election, or requires assistance in completing the application due to physical disability. 

There are several positions available in this year’s election including seats on the Select Board, Board of Health, Housing Authority, Board of Library Trustees (two seats), Park Commission, Planning Board (three seats), Board of Road Commissioners, School Committee (two seats), and Water & Sewer Commision, plus the position of Town Clerk.

For more information on the town election, visit https://www.hopedale-ma.gov/town-clerk