State nixes Trumbull plan to close precincts

WARREN — The Trumbull County Board of Elections has scrapped a plan to temporarily close 65 to 80 of the county’s 250 voting precincts for the November election, saying consolidation will have to wait until later in the year.

The elections board expected to save $30,000 to $40,000 with the plan, but the Ohio Secretary of State’s office advised against temporary precinct consolidations, said Kelly Pallante, elections board director.

Ron Massullo, regional liaison for Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, agreed, saying Brunner is opposed to a temporary precinct closing on a year when there are statewide ballot issues like there will be this year.

Many steps are necessary to eliminate a voting precinct, making it impractical to close a voting precinct unless it is permanent, he said.

Elections officials felt that certain precincts with relatively low numbers of registered voters could be closed this November because an odd-year general election doesn’t bring out a large number of voters compared to an even-year general election.

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com