Howard County commissioners approved several permanent and temporary changes to polling places for the November election during the court's Monday meeting, moving forward with suggestions from voter advocacy officials.
Permanent changes include relocating polls for Precincts 11,12, 16 and 112 from the Northside Fire Station to St. Thomas Catholic Church's Parrish Hall; Precinct 409 from the Sand Springs Lions Club Community Center to First Baptist Church of Sand Springs; and Precincts 208 and 304 from Forsan High School and Elbow Elementary to First Baptist Church of Forsan and Central Baptist Church.
“The advocate came and looked at the Northside Fire Station and confirmed it doesn't meet requirements,” Bloom told the court. “There have been numerous complaints from both voters and poll workers. The handicapped parking is inadequate, the bay we use for voting is open to the elements and isn't equipped with air conditioning or heatring and is unacceptable by ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines.
“The community center in Sand Springs was recently vandalized. The Lions Club indicated they are not going to renovate the building and later sold it, so it's no longer available. I've also been trying to get the polling places out of the schools because of the security risks they pose. These changes will address these problems.”
The court also approved several temporary changes, including relocation of polls for Precinct 205 from the Kentwood Older Activity Center to the Big Spring Mall; and Precincts 22, 24, 25 and 26 from Life Church to the Big Spring Mall.
Bloom said the change from Life Church was made necessary buy the recent sale of the building to Lone Star Bank, which is planning to make renovations in November.
“While it's been really well receive and the voters love it, the church has sold the building to Lone Star Bank,” said Bloom. “It's questionable. I've talked with Ron Brooks and he has said we're welcome to use it, however, come November it may be under renovation. We will have to re-evaluate that one after the remodeling finished to see if it is adequate for the number of voters.
“Kentwood, I can tell you right now it doesn't meet accessibility standards. It's owned by the First Methodist Church. I haven't contacted anyone with the church on a formal basis, but I don't believe they are in the mood to put the money out there to bring it up to code. We've gotten by with it in the past because we've offered curbside voting, but that is not acceptable under federal guidelines.”
Bloom said arrangements have already been made with the Big Spring Mall to house the Precinct 205 polls, but she's reluctant to make the change permanent until she can see how the change will work.
“I don't want to make it a permanent change because I'd like to see how it goes, but I feel like we may have to use it for the November election,” said Bloom.
Commissioners approved the changes by a unanimous vote.
Contact Staff Writer Thomas Jenkins at 263-7331 ext. 232 or by e-mail at
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