Fayette County clerk proposes precinct redraw and warns of up to $100,000 in new equipment costs

Fayette County Clerk Michelle said the state legislature passed a law aligning municipal elections with county ballots and that the county must make precinct boundaries match municipal limits before the next county election.

"What is happening is the state legislature passed a bill last session that will align the municipality, elections municipal elections with the county ballot," Michelle said, explaining that precincts as currently drawn do not match municipal boundaries and will require changes.

Michelle told commissioners the most complicated areas are Fayetteville and Oak Hill and that the modest municipal boundary shifts mean the county would likely add five precincts, increasing precinct count from 40 to 45. She said each new precinct requires tabulation and voting equipment and estimated the total unbudgeted cost could exceed $100,000.

"At that time, it would cost somewhere between 16 and 20,000 a precinct The outfit of precinct. That would be just b s 202 machine, maybe 3," Michelle said while noting she was awaiting firm quotes from the vendor.

Michelle proposed publishing notice and holding a public hearing in December so precinct changes can be finalized before statutory deadlines for the 2026-28 election cycle. She said the county has some flexibility on timing but prefers to avoid emergency procedures.

Commissioners discussed alternatives including creating a small, single precinct for about 75 city-resident voters in a riverfront subdivision, charging municipalities for their proportional share of added election costs under state law, and coordinating with municipal officials. Several commissioners asked Michelle to send a letter to the state delegation and legislative leaders to highlight the fiscal impact of the mandate on rural counties.

Action taken: Commissioners directed staff to publish notice for a December public hearing on precinct changes and to pursue vendor pricing. Commissioner discussion also produced a request that the clerk and interested commissioners convene a small working group to address cost-sharing and logistics.

The clerk said formal precinct boundary changes will be advertised at least a month in advance and that the county will follow statutory notice requirements before a vote.