The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

July 7, 2008

Election sites may change in Greenbrier

By Christian Giggenbach

LEWISBURG — The Greenbrier County Commission is considering closing seven polling precincts and consolidating them with larger ones prior to the general election in November.

Greenbrier County Clerk B.J. Livesay suggested the consolidation idea to the governing body last week and said a formal decision will be made by the commission Aug. 6. Livesay said the measures would save the county time and money on election nights with the possible elimination of about 21 poll workers who individually cost more than $180 per election.

Four of the newly proposed precincts will have new locations and three will keep the location they are being consolidated into, Livesay said.

Five poll workers are required by law for each precinct, Livesay said, and some of the precincts being targeted have fewer than 200 registered voters. Finding five poll workers for each precinct also has presented problems in the past, he said.

“I think it just makes economic sense to consolidate these precincts and it would make it more efficient,” Livesay said Monday. “Now, it should be easier for the (Democrat and Republican) executive committees to staff them.”

Livesay said one idea floated to the commission was to add two additional poll workers to the consolidated precincts to make up for the increase in foot traffic on election night. If the measure is approved in August, each individual voter must be notified, he said.

Currently, Greenbrier County has 36 polling precincts in three districts for its 23,712 registered voters. Democrats (13,816) outnumber Republicans about 2-1, according to Livesay.

“To make these changes before the election, we have to notify every person in the precinct and it will be advertised again,” Livesay said.

Those precincts under consideration for consolidation are:

Western District

- Precinct 61 combined with precinct 65 for a total of 1,339 voters. Location: Rainelle City Hall

- Precinct 54 combined with precinct 56 for a total of 741 voters. New location: Crichton Elementary School

- Precinct 48 combined with precinct 64 for a total of 1,337 voters. New location: Rupert Community Building

- Precinct 10 combined with precinct 47 for a total of 977 voters. Location: Smoot Elementary School

Central District

- Precinct 23 combined with precinct 27 for a total of 1,478 voters. New location: Greenbrier East High School

Eastern District

- Precinct 8 combined with precinct 11 for a total of 1,204 voters. New location: Alderson Community Center

- Precinct 34 combined with precinct 37 for a total of 1,252 voters. Location: Organ Cave Community Center

— E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com

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