County to merge poll sites

Vendors wanting to sell new voting machines were also on hand this week.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA STAFF
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- There will be far fewer places to vote in Lawrence County in the coming primary election thanks to a recently unveiled consolidation plan.
County commissioners presented the first draft of the plan last week to elected poll workers. The plan calls for reducing the number of polling places in the county from 106 to 72.
"Obviously it costs us less if we have 72 vs. 106. There will be fewer places to rent and it will cut down on time and money spent delivering supplies and, in the long run, there will be fewer election workers," Commissioner Dan Vogler said.
But, at least for the next four years, the number of elected poll workers will remain the same with two, sometimes three boards overseeing voters at one site. Each district elected a judge of elections, majority inspector and minority inspector to new terms in the last primary election, Vogler noted.
With the combination of polling places, there will be only one board of elected officials at those sites after 2009, he said. All changes must be approved by Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.
Addressing concerns
More than 100 election workers attended Friday's session at the courthouse where Vogler went over each precinct change individually and asked people present from those precincts for comments and suggestions.
Vogler said there were concerns about locations, parking and other things brought to their attention that will be addressed by commissioners. The proposed consolidations could change after they review all the comments, he said.
Changes in the number of precincts coincide with the county's research into a new voting system. On Wednesday, three companies proposing to sell a new system to the county were on hand to display their machines.
Election Systems & amp; Software demonstrated a touch screen system and an updated optical scan system. The county now uses a 20-year-old ES & amp;S optical scan system. Hart InterCivic Inc. also showed its touch screen and scan systems.
Vogler said they are waiting for the recommendation of a citizens committee created to investigate both companies. He added that the county also has been in talks with other western Pennsylvania counties to create a consortium of counties that are considering buying one system and asking the vendor for a better price.
The county has spent the last year looking at new voting systems.
To comply with act
The Help America Vote Act will provide nearly $1 million to pay for a new voting system. Upgrades also will make the polling sites accessible to the disabled.
Vogler said only three precincts meet the HAVA standards for the disabled. The county hired Hollister Bundy of Inclusion Solutions to make the polling sites accessible. The Chicago-based contractor will be paid up to $103,750 to build the necessary ramps, handrails and other features required to make the sites handicap accessible.
The county has until the end of February to identify an appropriate voting system and be in the process of buying that system, or be working toward that goal.
cioffi@vindy.com