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Suffolk staff propose four polling-site relocations; public hearing to be scheduled Feb. 19
Summary
Deputy City Manager Kevin Hughes told the council staff recommends relocating three precincts whose property owners can no longer host polling and one precinct for space concerns; staff will ask council to schedule a Feb. 19 public hearing to consider the changes.
City staff on Wednesday told the Suffolk City Council they will ask the council to schedule a public hearing for Feb. 19 to consider relocating four polling sites after the 2024 election revealed site problems and property-owner changes.
The changes affect three precincts where property owners notified the registrar they can no longer host voting and a fourth where staff say the airport terminal site is too constrained. "We've got 4 polling sites to discuss," Deputy City Manager Kevin Hughes said, adding the registrar and property owners have vetted the suggested alternatives.
Recommended relocations named by staff are: - Cypress voting borough: from New First Baptist Church (1105 Hosier Road) to Greater First Baptist Church Orlando (600 Factory); - Suffolk Motor/Lakeside precinct: from Suffolk Presbyterian Church (410 North Main Street) to Morgan Memorial Library (443 West Washington Street); - Whaleyville precinct: from Faith Temple Ministry Christian Fellowship Center (631 Brook Avenue) to Lakeview Ministry Baptist Church (635 Brook Avenue); - Willys/airport precinct: from the airport terminal conference space to the Public Utilities Operations Center (272 Benton Road) because the terminal space is narrow and congested.
Hughes said the Morgan Memorial Library solution will be tested through 2025 elections and staff will return with a recommendation after that cycle on whether the location should remain permanent or move to a future new library configuration. "We want to get through '25, that's kind of the need," he said.
Staff asked council to approve scheduling a public hearing at the Feb. 19 City Council meeting; the work session did not include a vote on the relocations. Hughes said staff will post the proposed changes online and at City Hall and continue to work with the registrar on Northern Suffolk early-voting site plans and a possible Fire Station 11 community room once construction is complete.
Council members thanked registrar staff and praised the move of one precinct to a more transit-accessible site; no formal relocation action was taken at the work session.
