Lanesborough Opts Out of Early Voting By Mail

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Voters will not be able to cast ballots early by mail but can they can still request an absentee ballot for the town election.

Last week, Clerk Ruth Knysh asked the Select Board to opt out of early voting by mail for municipal elections. Her request came after the state expanded access last year.

"An act passed to allow early voting by mail for local elections. It used to be just state and federal," she said. "So my thought on that is it's not in my budget, it's a lot of extra work added on me. I'm only one person in there."

Knysh explained that all of the mail-in ballots would have to be opened and processed by herself before being checked against signatures in the state computer.

"It's a process and the local elections are not well participated in," she said. "I'm just worried that if that is an option to vote by mail, we're going to get hundreds of people that don't typically vote wanting to vote by mail because they can."

The Select Board accepted the request, understanding the nature of Knysh's concern. The board also approved her request to have a police officer at the polling location for every election to "preserve order and protect the election officers." This also is now required by the state.

So far, incumbent Michael Murphy is being challenged by Barbara Davis-Hassan and Deborah Maynard for a three-year seat on the Select Board. 

Girls Inc. Members Get Firsthand Look at Local Government in Pittsfield

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Monday, October 19, 2026

Evelyn says what she likes about Girls Inc. She was one of three girls who spoke from the podium during the visit. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Members of Girls Inc. of the Berkshires visited City Hall, where they learned about local government, civic engagement, and discovered how their voices matter at any age. 

 

Girls Inc., a subsidiary of the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, has a holistic curriculum aimed at empowering and inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

 

Elected and appointed officials recently welcomed the girls, giving them a tour of the municipal building and answering questions they had from election processes, responsibilities and terms of elected officials, to how ward and at-large councilors represent residents. 

 

"I'm really pleased to see how engaged they are and interested in how government works, and their interest in hopefully understanding the impact that local government has on their everyday lives," at-Large City Councilor Alisa Costa said. 

 

The power of the people is stronger than that of an elected official and sometimes people forget that, Mayor Peter Marchetti said, emphasizing the influence residents can have by speaking during public comment periods at government meetings.

 

"It's the power of the people. So, I hope they learn to use their voices wisely," he said.  

 

It's important to encourage you to speak up and be public, rather than taking the "back seat" and being quiet, Marchetti said.