New InsideLowell AI correspondents Artie Fishal (left) and Ellie Gentz (right) “covered” Monday night’s meeting.

LOWELL – The Lowell Elections Commission convened on November 17, 2025, to address outstanding issues following the November 4th city election, including a review of provisional ballots, the status of overseas ballots, and the acceptance of a petition demanding a full recount in City Council District 3,.

The meeting was called to order, beginning with the acceptance of the minutes from October 27th. All four Commission members (William Murphy, James Pope, Lynda Clark and Candace Lawrence)  were present, as was Director of Elections Will Rosenberry.

District 3 City Council candidate Belinda Juran was in attendance, along with her recount attorney, Gerry McDonough.  Dan Finn, the candidate petitioning for a recount in the District 3 race was not present. However, the attorney representing him, Dennis Newman, was.

Provisional Ballot Disposition and Precinct 1 Errors

The Commission proceeded with the review and approval of the dispositions of provisional ballots, summarized in a spreadsheet provided to the members. Officials confirmed that a fair number of these provisional ballots ultimately counted and their tabulations are included in the overall return of votes.

However, the vast majority of provisional ballots that did not count were issued to individuals who either missed the registration deadline, were registered elsewhere, or could not be found registered in Lowell after a thorough search.

A significant administrative issue was brought to light concerning Ward 8, Precinct 1, where a large volume of provisional ballots were issued in error. Commission staff clarified that the majority, if not all, of these erroneously issued ballots were given to inactive voters. Staff assured the Commission that the problem was identified and corrected on Election Day. As a corrective measure, the Commission intends to find new personnel for that specific precinct moving forward. Following discussion, a motion was approved to accept the list of provisional ballot dispositions as presented.

It was also noted that no overseas ballots were received for this election, either before or up until the statutory deadline.

District 3 Recount Petition Accepted

The Commission formally addressed a recount petition filed late Thursday afternoon, prior to the statutory deadline of Friday at 5:00 p.m.. Staff confirmed the petition appeared to conform with the requirements of law, was filled out in its entirety, and stated the reason why the result may change. The petition certified a total of 18 signatures.

Following the acceptance of the petition, the Commission voted to strike City Council District 3 from the certification of the election results,. The staff confirmed that, unlike other areas reviewed, District 3 had no provisional ballots.

Officials provided the updated margin for District 3, noting the machine tally on Election Night initially showed a four-vote difference. However, after the addition of eight hand-counted ballots from Wards 3-2 and 3-3, the margin grew to a 10-vote difference, specifically 11:50 to 11:10.

Once the petition was accepted, the Commission authorized the use of a facsimile stamp to affix the Commissioners’ signatures to the certified petition. The original signatures remain in the vault downstairs, and the order for the recount will be officially communicated to the candidates the following morning. Both candidates had previously accepted to receive electronic service of process.

Detailed Recount Procedures Established

The Commission moved to set the date, time, and location for the recount, which is scheduled for Friday, November 21st.

The timeline requires that at least one Commissioner and a police officer must be present at 9:00 a.m. to observe the removal of the Ward 3 ballots from the election vaults and their transportation to the meeting room. From 9:00 a.m. until noon, the ballots will undergo “blocking”—a process where they are counted out into packets of 50. The ballots will be identified using envelopes and labels specifying the ward, precinct, and “block number”.

The official count will commence at noon. The process will utilize 10 staff members, comprised of four counting teams of two (eight tally clerks) and two tally clerks performing a master tally.

Candidates, their legal counsel, and agents will be present. Each campaign will be allotted up to 10 agents to observe the proceedings. The recount will take place in the meeting room, utilizing four tables for the counting teams. Support staff, including runners from the Commission office, will provide support during the process.

The Commissioners’ specific responsibility will be to hear and rule on any objections or protests related to ballots or voters. They will vote on the protests at a designated table. A crucial procedure established for the event of a tie vote among the Commissioners regarding a protested ballot is that the original call made by the tally clerk will serve as the tiebreaker.

The staff confirmed that a tailored memo outlining the specific procedures for that Friday will be sent to the candidates, Commissioners, and the Secretary of State, going beyond the Secretary of State’s general recount guide.

The detailed preparations for the District 3 recount, including the clear logistical structure, staffing requirements, and the transparent tiebreaker rule, illustrate the rigorous process employed by the Commission to ensure electoral accuracy, much like a meticulous forensic audit of financial records, where every entry is re-examined and certified before the final outcome is determined.