Board approves three polling-place relocations ahead of May primary

The Board of Elections voted to approve three proposed polling-place changes at a public hearing and will implement them in time for the May primary.

Director Doss presented the department’s recommendations, saying the plan would consolidate nearby precinct lines and relocate three polling sites. He described combining Saint Mark’s and National Hills precinct lines so the site would serve about 5,772 registered voters, with the farthest travel in that precinct about 1.7 miles. "That would make those two precincts have about 5,772 registered voters," Doss said. For the site at National Hills Baptist Church the department proposed 18 ballot-marking devices, two scanners, four poll pads and roughly 12 to 14 poll workers.

Doss also recommended combining Precinct 208 with 201 so voters would use a building worship center, a configuration he said would serve roughly 3,400 registered voters and could be arranged with about 14 BMDs, one scanner, three poll pads and 10–12 poll workers. For Precinct 110, voters at Mann Mize would be moved to Good Shepherd Baptist Church; Doss estimated that site would serve about 1,200–1,247 registered voters with six BMDs, one scanner, two poll pads and five to six poll workers.

On the eastern side of the county, the department proposed returning the polling place to the renovated facility formerly called the Hephzibah Carroll Community Center — now the Brothersville Exhibition Center — to reduce travel distances for voters who currently use Oasis Church; Doss said the site would serve about 3,321 registered voters across the city and non‑city precinct identifiers and would be equipped with 14 BMDs, one scanner, four poll pads and 10–12 workers.

Doss reviewed the legal timeline for notices, saying that notices had been published twice and that "March 20 is the legal deadline for any changes, which is 60 days before the election," and outlining the required signage: notices to affected voters by April 19, posting signs in the vicinity seven days before the election at three locations in the precinct and an oversized sign at the old polling place on election day directing voters to the new site.

A board member moved to accept the department’s recommendations as articulated by Director Doss and another board member seconded. Chair called the question; the motion was announced as carried unanimously.

The board directed staff to notify affected voters and to post the required signage and notices in accordance with the legal timeline. The chair closed the public‑hearing portion of the meeting and the board proceeded to a special called meeting on advance voting.

What happens next: Notices to affected voters and posted signs will be distributed on the schedule Doss outlined; staff said more detailed voter‑notification materials will follow once implementation steps are finalized.