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Page 10 ~ Letter-to-the-Editor ~ I was informed that Massachusetts Town Clerks are permitted to have opinions on State Questions on the Election Ballot. I would like to state that as the Town Clerk and Election Official for the Town of Saugus as well as my Assistant Town Clerk, Stephanie Hardy , are against Question 4 which would establish Election Day Registration and allow eligible individuals to register to vote or change their voter registration address on Election Day, here are my reasons: While fully supporting every eligible citizen’s right to vote, we believe that protecting the integrity, accuracy, and security of our elections must remain equally important. Question 4 would place significant additional responsibilities on local election officials and election workers at the busiest and most demanding time of the election process. Under the proposed law, election officials would be required to evaluate voter registrations and address changes at the polling locations (Saugus has 6 different locations) while simultaneously managing voting, checking voter eligibility, maintaining accurate records, assisting voters, and addressing the many other responsibilities that occur on Election Day. This moves important verification work that can currently be completed in advance into an environment where election officials are working under considerable time pressure. As municipal election officials, we are particularly concerned about our ability to adequately verify information presented by individuals who have not previously registered or who are attempting to establish a new voting address on Election Day. Although the proposal includes proof-of-residency requirements and a sworn oath, those safeguards do not eliminate the possibility of errors, conflicting information, duplicate registrations, or false information being presented when there is little opportunity for meaningful advance review. Our election offices already THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 23, 2026 SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 9 Town Clerk expresses opposition to Massachusetts Ballot Question 4 – Election Day Registration face very real staffing and technology limitations. Municipalities should not be expected to implement a significant new Election Day process without the personnel, equipment, technology, training, and funding necessary to administer it properly. Adding these responsibilities to already-overextended election workers could increase the potential for mistakes and delays and place additional strain on local election administrations. The current system provides voters with a 10-day registration deadline, giving election officials an opportunity to process registrations and address changes before Election Day. The prior last day registration was 20 days beforehand, this was changed during The Votes Act of 2022. According to “What’s on my ballot,” most States close registration 15-30 days before Election Day. Massachusetts also provides multiple opportunities for residents to register or update their information before an election, including online, by mail and in-person registration. Voters need to take some responsibility. Election security depends not only on laws and procedures, but also on giving the people responsible for administering elections the time and resources necessary to properly perform their duties. Moving critical registration and verification functions to Election Day, when election offices are already operating at maximum capacity, creates unnecessary administrative challenges and potential vulnerabilities. For these reasons, we respectfully urge Massachusetts voters to vote NO on Ballot Question 4. Our elections deserve to be accessible, accurate, secure, and properly administered. Local election officials need the resources and time necessary to accomplish all four. Please support the integrity of our elections. Vote NO on Question 4. Sincerely, Ellen Joyce Schena Saugus Town Clerk sored through the Parson Roby Chapter DAR at a cost of $5 each. The flags will be placed at Veterans Park prior to Nov. 11 and will wave throughout the week until Nov. 12 with your veteran’s name on the flag. Flags may be sponsored to honor a family member, friend, neighbor or employee who has served or is currently serving our country. The deadline to sponsor flags is Oct. 30. You may send a check ($5 per flag) made payable to Parson Roby Chapter along with the information of the veteran (Name/ Rank/Branch of Service/Years or War if known) and mail it to Treasurer, 27 Pearson St., Saugus, MA 01906. After 12 noon on Nov. 11, you can pick up your sponsored flag to either keep or put on a grave. “2021 was our first year sponsoring the Field of Flags and it has been a huge success. So many members of the community stopped by to thank us in remembering our veterans this way. There were over 140 flags sponsored with veteran’s names waving in the wind and we hope for many more veterans to be sponsored this year. All proceeds from the Veteran’s Field of Flags will support the Daughters of the American Revolution’s mission to preserve American history and secure Americans’ future through education and promoting patriotism. For more information on how to sponsor a flag or in joining the Parson Roby Chapter DAR, please email parsonroby.saugusdar@gmail.com.” Patriotic Scholarships for High School students The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you. High school students may apply for the Voice of Democracy Scholarship, and middle school students may apply for the Patriot’s Pen Scholarship. The 202627 theme is “What a Veteran Taught Me About America.” Voice of Democracy: Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the premier scholarship program of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Each year, nearly 26,000 high school students compete for more than $2 million in scholarships and incentives. Prizes and scholarships can be awarded at the Post, District, State and National levels. Any student in grades 9-12 can enter, whether they attend a U.S. public, private, parochial or home study program. Students compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. Students submit their essays through a local VFW Post. Patriot’s Pen: Each year, more than 800,600 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen annual youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1 million in local and national awards. Each firstplace VFW Department (state) winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first-place winner wins $5,000! The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300to 400-word essay expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Additional information and applications may be obtained on the VFW National website at vfw.org or through the S/ Sgt Arthur F. DeFranzo VFW Post 2346 at post2346@vfwma.org. Essays must be turned in by midnight, Oct. 31. Household Hazardous Waste Day Oct. 31 The town will host a Household Hazardous Waste Day on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Belmonte STEAM Academy (25 Dow St.). There is no cost to Saugus residents to discard allowed items at the Household Hazardous Waste Day. No appointment or preregistration is required. The following items can be disposed of at this event: Household materials: acids (corrosives), aerosol cans, art supplies, batteries, chemistry set and photography chemicals, fiberglass resins, furniture, floor, metal polishers and strippers, mercury containing devices, moth balls/crystals, oil paint, paint thinners, varnish, stain/shellac (no latex), rug and upholstery cleaners, solvent adhesives, turpentine and paint solvents, wood preservatives, hair dye, nail polish remover, toilet cleaners, brighteners, chlorine bleach, spot removers, spray starch, whiteners, drain and oven cleaners, lawn and garden materials, cesspool cleaners (corrosives), flammable liquids/gasoline, flea and tick powders, fire starters, herbicides and pesticides, no-pest strips, poisons, pool chemicals, propane tanks (empty or up to 20 lbs.); automotive products: antifreeze, batteries, brake fluid, carburetor cleaner, oil (used), radiator flush, solvents and degreasers, tire cleaners, transmission fluid. Latex paint can be dried out and disposed of with your curbside trash. Please contact Scott Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions. Saugus Lions Food Drive Nov. 7 The Saugus Lions will hold a “Drive up and drop off” food drive on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St.). We will donate all proceeds to the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry, which will be getting Thanksgiving dinners together for families in need. Some items they are requesting: cranberry sauce, boxed mashed potatoes, boxed stuffing, canned corn or green beans, cream of mushroom soup. If you aren’t available to drop off, we are accepting donations through the Lions venmo account, where even a $15 donation may get 15 cans of vegetables or several boxes of stuffing or toward much-needed grocery gift cards. You make the donation and we will do the shopping! Venmo to: Saugus-Lions MA. Please put “Food drive” in the memo. Elks plan Alcohol/Drug Recovery Presentation Nov. 9 The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee is sponsoring an Alcohol and Drug Recovery presentation from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St. in Saugus). This hour-long presentation is free and it will be presented by SoSOUNDS | SEE PAGE 11

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