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Petersburg council moves Ward 1 polling place to Lakemont Elementary
Summary
At a July 1 special meeting, the Petersburg City Council approved an ordinance to change Ward 1's polling place to Lakemont Elementary School at 51 Gibbons Avenue; the change is subject to review by the Virginia Attorney General.
Petersburg City Council on July 1 approved an ordinance to change the Ward 1 polling place to Lakemont Elementary School, 51 Gibbons Avenue, a move that the council approved subject to review by the Virginia Attorney General.
The change responds to redistricting that placed the ward's previous polling place, Blandford Academy, outside Ward 1. City staff and election officials said the registrar certified that Lakemont Elementary meets the legal and building-code requirements for use as a polling site and that the local electoral board and the registrar secured a memorandum of understanding with Petersburg City Public Schools for facility use.
City Attorney Williams said the proposal is "simply an effort to move the polling place into the ward at which the citizens live right now." Officials told the council that Code of Virginia section 24.2-3.10 allows a polling place within one mile of a ward boundary but that the registrar preferred a site located inside the ward.
Council approved the ordinance in a roll-call vote. The minutes record "aye" votes by Council Member Cuthbert, Council Member Myers, Council Member Westbrook, Vice Mayor Hill and Mayor Perrin. The motion carried and the council instructed staff to proceed with the required submission to the Virginia Attorney General for approval; officials said that review can take about 60 days.
During public comment, Don Bossy thanked the city attorney and the council for assisting with the move, saying he appreciated the work put into securing the location and related approvals.
Next steps are for the city attorney to file the formal request for approval with the Attorney General and for the registrar and electoral board to finalize implementation details once state approval is received.
