NORTH ATTLEBORO - What's your voter status?

The town's election commission says if you did not return the town annual census, you are likely among the 3,353 voters listed as "inactive."

That, in turn, could create a backup at the high school polling site during the Nov. 4 presidential election, which is expected to draw a record number of voters, commission Chairman Kevin Poirier told selectmen last week.

People listed as "inactive" who go to vote will be directed to a table to sign an affirmation form, he said. And, if all 3,353 of those currently listed as "inactive" show up at the polling site, "the line will be on one side of the gym and out the door," Poirier said.

Election commissioners are hoping to head off that problem, asking people to visit or call the office between now and Oct. 15 if they suspect they have been listed as inactive, so they can fill out a form that will allow them to vote without complication on election day. Oct. 15 is the last day to register to vote or to make any changes, including party affiliation, said Janice Norton with the election department. The office will be open until 8 p.m. that day.

Poirier said the state has not responded yet to the commission's request to list the names of inactive voters on the town's Web site, so that residents can check it.

This will be the first time in town that voting in a presidential election will be held at a single polling site, Poirier said.

"Parking's going to be tight," he said. "There will be delays."

The town currently has 18,276 eligible voters, meaning the "inactive" voters make up nearly 1 in 5 voters.

The list of inactive voters was developed in accordance with a 1993 state law that directed communities to keep track of voters through a census.

If a person does not fill out the census form, the commission then has to send a follow-up notice with a postage-paid reply envelope.

In the case of the more than 3,300 inactive voters currently in town, those people have not responded to either notice, Poirier said.

There will be no school on Nov. 4, since it will be a professional development day for teachers.

Under the plan developed with the police department, teachers will park in the front near the middle school, along with students who attend sports practices. Once the teachers leave, there will essentially be three parking lots, which police will be filling one at a time, he said.

A heavy turnout is historical in presidential contests, Poirer said. In the 2004 election, 71 percent of the town's 19,008 registered voters turned out.

He said expectations are that by the time this election rolls around, there will likely be 19,000 people registered to vote.

In response to questions by selectmen, Poirier said the commission has and will continue to look into additional polling sites for the presidential election, but that handicapped accessibility remains a problem.

He said that if another polling site was added, every voter in the precinct has to be notified.

Absentee ballots are available, allowing people who will be out of town or who want to vote early, to cast their ballot ahead of time. Voters can go online to request an absentee ballot or stop into the elections office in town hall. Absentee ballots are due by noon Nov. 3.

Poirier urged voters planning to cast ballots at the polling site to do so early or during typically slow periods, such as between 2 and 3 p.m.

"Don't wait until the last minute," he said.

SUSAN LaHOUD can be reached at 508-236-0398 or at slahoud@thesunchronicle.com.