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Fewer polling places for November

By Janelle Patterson

The Marietta Times

jpatterson@mariettatimes.com

Of Washington County’s approximately 43,000 registered voters, 10,000 will see a change in polling locations during the general election this November.

The county’s board of elections voted Wednesday to consolidate locations in the rural portions of the county for multiple reasons, some adhering to requests of voters and locations, others for requests and needs of poll workers. That will reduce the number of buildings used for voting from 27 to 13.

“We focused on not having any location only have one precinct,” noted Mandy Amos, director of the board of elections.

The reasons for the change include preparing for the state-required purchase of new equipment expected in the next few years, less poll worker involvement than in years past and the reduction in rental costs for delivery trucks.

Peggy Byers, deputy director of the board of elections, said another important factor that played into the decision was requests from voters and poll workers about certain locations.

“There were complaints about having no bathroom or no cell service in some locations and others like Oak Grove we kept having the problem of being able to get in to set up,” Byers explained. “And we used to get around 224 workers to show up even from the more rural precincts to work, but now we have fewer volunteering from out there and making a poll worker from Belpre drive all the way across the county is more costly and difficult.”

Mike Webber, who not only serves as chairman of Washington County’s Republican Party, but also as a poll worker on Election Day, said he understands the changes but noted the challenges that will come with it.

“For me, it’s a prudent move,” he noted. “If any folks think it’s too far to go, you can mail in your ballot or vote early in the office. But as far as transportation goes both parties will have our work cut out for us to get people to polling places that want to show up and vote. We’ve had buses bring some people and we have also offered curbside voting at locations for those that cannot make the long walk inside but there’s room for some work there.”

Byers and Webber also noted the number of precincts will remain, despite the consolidation of locations.

“One concern the parties had was not to reduce the number of precincts,” Byers said. “So precincts just changed buildings so the parties can still appoint the evenly spread poll workers and central committee members.”

Voters from Lowell/Adams Township are moving from the volunteer fire department in Lowell to the Beverly Volunteer Fire Department.

Voters from the Fearing precinct are joining those at the First Church of the Nazarene in Marietta.

“Most of them come into town to vote early anyways or to grocery shop,” explained Byers. “The numbers are showing too a trend of voters going to mail-in voting more than anything else. The rule of thumb is one-third of registered voters don’t vote, one-third vote early and only one-third show up on Election Day.”

But for the more rural areas where voter turnout is already a challenge, the concern is that this move will discourage participation.

“I’m worried that people are just not going to vote,” said LeRoy Schroeder, 72, of Liberty Township. “I always thought that we were trying to get more people out to vote. I wait until Election Day to vote because I wait to listen to the different candidates and what they have to say before making my decision. I don’t go along with the Republican Party or Democratic Party on every candidate, I’m not either one.”

Schroeder said he’s concerned that the low turnout in townships like Aurelius and Salem, which will now go to Liberty precinct’s location at the Dalzell Community Building, will be even lower with the change.

“I can understand putting Salem, Aurelius and Liberty together, but I feel bad for those in Aurelius that have to drive so far now to vote,” he said. “Aurelius already has the least amount of participation in voting every year, sometimes only 18 people show up on Election Day.”

Byers added that Wesley, Cutler and Aurelius townships haven’t supplied poll workers in recent years to cover the prior locations.

“So now with this move, all locations are ADA accessible for the wheelchairs and walkers, and will have bathrooms and things people really expect when they go to vote,” she said.

Amos and Byers noted that mail-in applications will begin appearing in mailboxes from the secretary of state’s office the week of Labor Day and early voting begins Oct. 10 at the board of elections office, 204 Davis Ave., Marietta.

“People can also fill out the application online or call us to have us mail them one if they don’t get the application,” Byers added.

Polling location changes and voter registration information can be found online at washingtongov.org/boardofelections.

Who’s moving where:

¯ Lowell/Adams Township precinct is joining the Beverly/Waterford precinct and the Waterford A precinct at the Beverly Volunteer Fire Department, 400 Seventh St., Beverly.

¯ Fearing Township precinct is joining residents in Marietta’s 1A, 1B and 3A precincts at the First Church of the Nazarene, 100 Mill Creek Road, Marietta.

¯ Muskingum Township West precinct, notably Oak Grove residents, will now vote at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 312 Franklin St., Marietta, with residents of Harmar and Harmar Hill (Marietta 4A, 4B and West precincts.)

¯ Decatur Township and Wesley Township precincts are joining Barlow, Vincent, Dunham and Fairfield voters at the Lighthouse Baptist Church, 8135 State Route 339, Vincent.

¯ Ludlow Township precinct is joining Matamoras/Grandview precinct voters at the New Matamoras Public Library, 101 Merchant St., New Matamoras.

¯ Independence Township and Lawrence Township precincts are joining Newport Township precinct voters at the Newport United Methodist Church, 420 Greene St., Newport.

¯ Warren South precinct is joining Warren Northeast and Northwest precincts at the Pinehurst Christian Church, 20307 State Route 550, Marietta.

¯ Aurelius Township and Salem Township precincts are joining Liberty Township precinct voters at the Dalzell Community Building, 7530 Dalzell Road, Whipple.

¯ Muskingum Township East precinct, notably Devola residents, will now vote at the Washington County Fairgrounds, 103 Fair Ave., Marietta, with residents of Marietta’s 2A, 2B, 3B, 3C and 4C precincts.

¯ Palmer Township precinct is joining Watertown precinct voters at the Watertown Volunteer Fire Department, 12725 State Route 676, Waterford.

What didn’t change:

¯ All Belpre and Rockland East precincts will continue to vote at the Belpre Church of Christ, 2932 Washington Blvd., Belpre.

¯ Marietta East A-D precincts will continue to vote at the Marietta Township Recreation Center, 260 Sandhill Road, Reno.

¯ Little Hocking and Rockland West precincts will continue to vote at the Porterfield Baptist Church, 39 Hollywood Drive, Little Hocking.

Source: Washington County Board of Elections.

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