City shrinks voting precincts

City Clerk Michael Matarazzo advises residents that the city has made some changes to its voting precincts and polling places. The changes, approved by the City Council and the state’s Local Election District Review Commission, are the result of population shifts reflected in the 2010 US Census and a plan by the city to reduce the number of precincts from 18 to 12. Each of the city’s wards will now have two precincts, instead of the previous three. “There was no logical reason for the city to continue the practice of staffing, equipping, and bearing the cost of six additional precincts that were not required by law,’’ Matarazzo said in a prepared statement. The March 6 presidential primary will be the first election at which the changes will be in place. To prepare voters for them, the Board of Registrars recently mailed postcards informing each household of its ward and precinct designation. Maps of the wards and precincts have also been posted on the city’s website, www.cityofeverett.com, on the elections section of the clerk’s page. - John Laidler