Blount County commissioners debate shift to voting centers; amendment to split vote fails, no final vote recorded

Summary

Commissioners spent more than two hours debating a proposal that would fund and authorize a move to countywide voting centers. An amendment to separate the funding from the policy failed 10–7 with one abstention; the main motion received discussion but no final recorded vote at the workshop meeting.

Blount County commissioners spent a large portion of a workshop meeting discussing Resolution 25‑2‑0‑1‑7, a $110,000 budget increase tied to a plan to adopt voting centers countywide and expand convenience voting options.

The item was read into the record as a budget increase to “appropriate funds for convenience voting centers due to the increased number of registered voters.” Commissioners debated whether the appropriation also constituted approval of the shift from precinct-based elections to voting centers and whether the commission should first take a separate vote on the policy change.

“It's time to pick . . . pick the path and let's roll,” said Moe, the elections official who addressed commissioners multiple times during the debate, urging the commission to choose a direction and move forward. Moe told commissioners that adopting voting centers would allow “one in each county commission district” and that the county could initially locate roughly 15 voting centers, with others placed “strategically” by population and travel routes.

Commissioners who opposed the change stressed community ties to local…

Blount County commissioners debate shift to voting centers; amendment to split vote fails, no final vote recorded

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading