AMHERST – Voters in only 3 districts will vote at the user at Amherst Regional High School for the number one presidential election in September and November, and all others will proceed to use existing polling stations.
In a reversal of a resolution a week earlier in which the city council consolidated all 10 districts in the high school gymnasium, councillors unanimously approved a new plan on Monday that keeps the maximum of existing posts where other people vote.
The only adjustments will be for the electorate in District 2, who voted at the North Fire Station, and the electorate in districts four and 10, who voted at Bangs Community Center. This electorate will have to go to high school if they want to vote on Election Day.
Council President Lynn Griesemer said she and other councillors have won more emails and communications at the electoral college than on any other issue since the City Council assembly began in December 2018. Many citizens warned that not having the same eight polling stations in the city’s districts suppress the vote.
“We’ve heard it in many ways, ” Griesemer.
Other considerations included the one-year motion of the ballot box in presidential elections, which may confuse voters; Have all surveys on one site creating longer queues and wait to enter the building; and restrict access to the polls for those who walk or cycle to the polls. A consolidated site has also been thought of as through some to increase the risks of COVID-19 spreading.
Three districts still had to be relocated due to pandemic security concerns. The Northern Fire Station is considered a gated facility and is also an apartment for firefighters. The Bangs Center, where The FiveTh Electoral District will continue to vote, is considered too small to serve the electorate in 3 districts.
Although Superintendent Michael Morris informed the board that he was involved in the procedure to use 3 elementary schools as polling stations, the school would not be in consultation with the number one on 1 September and there are doubts about whether many other people would be in schools. November 3.
John Bonifaz, a resident and co-founder of Free Speech for People and a lawyer specializing in law and constitutional, had raised objections to the consolidation plan. He congratulated the councillors for returning to the drawing board.
“We will have the right to vote and the fitness of our community,” Bonifaz said.
District 4 Councilman Steve Schreiber voted in favor of the new plan, liked the polling place for the best schools for singles because it would be clearer to choose where they deserve to vote.
District 3 councillor George Ryan said his number one fear is to protect public health and public protection amid a pandemic.
The number of other people who will go to the polls on election days is uncertain, Secretary Shavena Martin said more than 5,000 of the 17,000 registered voters in Amherst had already chosen to vote by mail. There will also be early voting in advance.
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