Board of Elections approves moving Newcastle Second Ward polling place to Scottish Rite Cathedral

The Lawrence County Board of Elections voted unanimously Sept. 23 to move the polling place for Newcastle’s Second Ward, First Precinct from Newcastle High School at 310 East Lincoln Avenue to the Scottish Rite Cathedral at 110 East Lincoln Avenue. The board said notices and signage will inform voters of the change and that the county will mail updated voting ID cards.

The change affects 808 registered voters in the precinct, the board said. Election staff said they will send individual notices to voters in that precinct, post a notice in the newspaper and place signs at both buildings and around the neighborhood directing voters to the new site.

The board’s action came during a special meeting called primarily to consider the polling-place move. Commissioners discussed accessibility and parking at the cathedral and thanked both the Newcastle School District for years of hosting and the cathedral for agreeing to host the polling place.

Election Director Tim Germani gave the board the addresses for both facilities and confirmed the county will inform affected voters. The board approved the change as Resolution No. 5 by roll call vote (three yes, zero no).

Commissioners and staff said the cathedral’s main floor provides an accessible voting area and ample parking, and that the county will have directional signage at the high school on election day to guide voters to the cathedral. No public comments were offered on the item during the meeting.

The board did not set a different effective date in the meeting record; staff said notices to affected voters will be mailed and posted ahead of the upcoming election.

The election office said it also notified local party officials of the meeting as a courtesy.