The Board of Election Commissioners, two Democrats and two Republicans, are appointed to staggered four-year terms by the Manager from a list of candidates submitted by the City Committees of each party. Daily operations of the Commission are conducted by five full-time staff persons (an Executive Director, Assistant Director, an Administrative Assistant, two data entry staff) and two part-time clerical aides. They are assisted at peak times by temporary part-time employees in voter registration, census canvassing, and signature certification. In addition, prior to each election, approximately 260 additional personnel are recruited, trained, and supervised by the Board to staff each of the polling locations(PDF)within the City. Over 40,000 voter records (from a total of nearly 73,000 residents over the age of 17) are actively maintained both in a computer database and in a cross-referenced card system, with several thousand changes of party, name, and address annually. Confirmation of each change to a voter's record is sent to the respective voter in accordance with statutory requirements. In order to preserve the integrity of the database for the street lists and voting lists, the Board of Election Commissioners personally verifies the existence or nonexistence of questionable addresses within the City. They also prepare manuals to guide poll workers' operations on Election Day. Election Commission FAQs Who are the members of the Board of Election Commissioners? The members of the four-person Board are: Artis B. Spears, Republican (1980, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2001)(2005) Darleen G. Bonislawski, Democrat (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000)(2004) Ethridge A. King, Jr. Republican (2007) Polyxane S. Cobb, Democrat (2007)  What is the function of the Board of Election Commissioners? The Board of Election Commissioners was established by the Acts of 1921, Chapter 239, to conduct voter registration, supervise all elections, assume responsibility for the annual City census, and certify voter signatures on nomination papers, petitions, and ballot questions. Every ten years, after the conclusion of the Federal Census, the Board also re-precincts based on population changes. The role of the Commission was expanded in 1987 to include administration of Chapter 55 of the Massachusetts General Laws governing campaign and political finance reporting. In 1991 the Commission was assigned the administration and enforcement Chapters 2.117 and 2.118 of the Cambridge Municipal Code, known as the "Ethics Ordinance." The Board establishes policy for the Commission, giving instruction and guidance to the office staff who implement those policies and administer day-to-day operations of the office. How are the Commissioners selected? In accordance with State law, the four members of the Board must be chosen, two each from the two leading political parties.A Commissioner serves a four-year term and may be reappointed. The terms are staggered, with one member's term expiring each year. A Democratic Commissioner's term expires every even-numbered year. A Republican Commissioner's term expires every odd-numbered year. Each year the City Committee of the party whose Commissioner's term is expiring nominates three members of the party who reside in the City for the position. Those names are submitted to the City Manager, who appoints one of the nominees by April 1. When does the Board of Election Commissioners meet? The Commissioners meet on Wednesdays in the Election Commission Office at 51 Inman Street, First Floor. Afternoon meetings are held at 2:00 p.m.; evening meetings are at 5 p.m. All notices of meetings are posted in the City Clerk's Office at City Hall, on municipal cable, on the City's web page, and in both the Cambridge Chronicle and the Cambridge TAB. Are Commission meetings open to the public? Yes, all meetings are open to the public.