LAWRENCE — City Clerk William Maloney said it is possible today's election will be monitored by state or federal overseers.
"Certainly, we welcome the attention," Maloney said, adding that as of late yesterday afternoon he had not been notified if they will be at the polls.
"But I've come to expect it," Maloney said of the visits.
Maloney said the inspectors from the secretary of state's office or the U.S. Department of Justice are usually helpful and will point out election matters that require immediate attention.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and results will be tabulated in the elections division at City Hall.
Election officials predict a roughly 40 percent turnout of the city's nearly 35,000 registered voters.
The election features the mayoral race between City Councilor David Abdoo and state Rep. William Lantigua. They are seeking to succeed Mayor Michael Sullivan who is finishing his second two-year term and cannot run again due to term limits.
A new host of city councilors and School Committee members also will be elected.
Today, anyone campaigning for particular candidates must stay 150 feet away from every polling location, Maloney said.
Abdoo will have two observers in every polling location. If need be, the workers can challenge any questionable voters.
"Their job is to make sure every voter is who they say they are. ... That the actual registered ballot voter is from Lawrence," Abdoo said.
It's unclear if Lantigua will have his own observers. Attempts to reach him for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.
In related election news, a Boston attorney who has previously overseen the city's election process won't be working today.
William McDermott, who has represented Lantigua during an election recount in 2006, has recused himself from this election, a spokesman for Secretary of State William Galvin's office said yesterday.
Lantigua still owes McDermott $1,372 for representing him in the recount of ballots cast for state representative. Lantigua was challenged for re-election by Marcos Devers.
Without McDermott, it's unclear who will keep an eye on today's election, though.
Maloney referred all questions on the matter to Charles Boddy, city attorney. Boddy could not be reached for comment.
Sullivan also said he didn't know if another attorney was contracted by the city to work today.
The city is required to have an attorney oversee every election, according to an agreement reached with the Justice Department in 1999. Then, the Justice Department investigated complaints of unfairness and fraud in the city's voting process.
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