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The Electoral Board had
recommended a number of changes in voting locations as a
part of the process of redistricting that occurred in 2001.
Now that the Board has experienced elections utilizing a
number of new polling places, the Electoral Board is seeking
to change polling place locations for the Courthouse, Lois
and Marshall precincts.
The Courthouse precinct
polling place has long been a difficult location for voters
that has now been further excerbated by the ongoing
construction at the Warren Green Building. Parking at this
location is a problem because of its close proximity to
several governmental buildings and high citizen traffic.
Because the building has a maximum occupancy of thirty (30)
persons, voters are sometimes forced to wait outside of the
building. By moving the Courthouse precinct polling place to
the Warrenton Presbyterian Church, ample space would be
available to accommodate large numbers of voters during the
rush periods. This change would also move the voting
location away from the nucleus of government buildings in
Warrenton that produce high traffic volume and competition
for parking.
The Lois precinct polling
place, located at Mary Walter Elementary School, causes
confusion among voters because the polling location is
shared with the Morrisville precinct. Parking is very
difficult because this location serves voters from both
precincts, and also those visiting and working at the
school. Though so allowed by State statute, the Lois
precinct polling place is located outside the precinct
boundary. Moving the Lois precinct voting location to Mt.
Carmel Baptist Church would place the polling location
within the precinct boundaries. In addition, this location
offers ample parking for voters, as well as a much larger
space to conduct voting.
The Marshall precinct
polling place, located at Marshall Community Center Annex,
is a unanimously unpopular location for voters, officers of
election and the facility staff. The polling space is
located in a small meeting room in the rear of the
building, which requires voters to traverse two lengthy
corridors to the voting location. Other activities scheduled
throughout the day in this same building compete with the
polling process, and create competition for parking spaces.
Moving the Marshall precinct polling place to the Marshall
Ruritan Club would provide a far more convenient voting
location with ample parking, ease of access, a much larger
space for voting, and no competition with other public
activities.
Staff has determined that
the Marshall Ruritan Club location will require two handicap
accessible parking spaces and an asphalt apron to connect
the new spaces to the existing ramp leading up to the
entrance. Further, the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church location
will require two handicap accessible parking spaces. The
cost for handicap accessible improvements is anticipated not
to exceed $4,000 for the two locations combined.
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