Voters in the East Franklin and Newburg communities now have new polling places after the Franklin County Commission voted to approve changing the two locations at a special-called Monday afternoon meeting.
A public hearing was held prior to the meeting to receive input as to the proposed change. There were no citizens in attendance who wanted to speak.
The Newburg polling place will be relocated from the Newburg Masonic Lodge to Macedonia Baptist Church, located at 37050 Highway 724. The lodge is an older building and has developed some issues impacting voter convenience, particularly for handicapped voters.
In East Franklin, voters will now cast ballots at Cornerstone Full Gospel Fellowship Church, located at 1 Block Church Road.
“It was a matter of congestion at East Franklin Junior High (the former location) with children coming and going to school in the morning and again in the afternoon,” Franklin County Probate Judge Barry Moore said. “That was making it difficult for some to vote.”
Both polling place moves remain within the same precinct, so no legislative action was needed, Moore said. The deadline to make the changes was May 17 due to a special election for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The primary is set for August 15, 2017, with a runoff on Sept. 26, 2017. The general election will be on December 12, 2017.
“I think these changes will be beneficial for everyone, including poll workers and most importantly, the voters. That's our main concern,” Moore said.
