Utica Changes Polling Places
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: November 2, 2012
With election day almost upon us do you know where you'll be voting?
Nearly 30 election districts have moved after changes by the Board of
Elections.
Some officials and voters are angry. They say the changes will have a negative effect on the election.
Some community members say these changes will not only inconvenience voters, but they will also hinder some elderly and disabled voters from taking part in the election.
"Chaos, absolute chaos, it's gonna be crazy," says Darrell Springstead, 1st ward committee member.
Several polling places have been consolidated, and some community members say it's going to be a mess.
"You're gonna have a building filled with 11 districts, some 9 districts. When your bringing in hundreds and hundreds of people, there is gonna be mass confusion," says Lawrence Joseph, 1st ward committee member.
But the Board of Elections says changing polling locations was necessary.
"To make it more feasible for our guys to address issues that arise. And again when you have tables that are very clearly specified, people will be able to figure it out where they need to vote. They're physically going to a new location. That's the extent of the change," says Pamela Mandryck, Republican Election Commissioner at Board of Elections.
But chairperson of the fifth ward says it's more than that.
"We have a lot of low income families. It's not just where people can jump in a car and drive a few extra blocks, a lot of the people walk to the polling areas and when you remove them from the heart of the ward and put them technically outside the ward, your disenfranchising many people from being able to vote," says Mark Mazzo, 5th ward chairperson.
The committee members say many 1st ward constituents are elderly and disabled. They say changing their polling place even by a few extra blocks will make a difference.
"Being handicapped or elderly, they're not gonna try making the walk to get over there," says Springstead.
And Joseph fears the changes will bring lower voter turnout.
"Because of the disenchantment, because of physical reasons, because they don't have vehicles. People have comfort zones and with that comfort zone comes ya know, security," says Joseph.
Pam Mandryck says the Board of Elections was asked to reduce the number of polling locations to cut costs. But committee members say they don't see where the county is saving any money.
For a complete list of New Polling Places, visit:
http://www.ocgov.net/sites/default/files/election/GeneralNov2012/POLL%20PLACES.pdf
Some officials and voters are angry. They say the changes will have a negative effect on the election.
Some community members say these changes will not only inconvenience voters, but they will also hinder some elderly and disabled voters from taking part in the election.
"Chaos, absolute chaos, it's gonna be crazy," says Darrell Springstead, 1st ward committee member.
Several polling places have been consolidated, and some community members say it's going to be a mess.
"You're gonna have a building filled with 11 districts, some 9 districts. When your bringing in hundreds and hundreds of people, there is gonna be mass confusion," says Lawrence Joseph, 1st ward committee member.
But the Board of Elections says changing polling locations was necessary.
"To make it more feasible for our guys to address issues that arise. And again when you have tables that are very clearly specified, people will be able to figure it out where they need to vote. They're physically going to a new location. That's the extent of the change," says Pamela Mandryck, Republican Election Commissioner at Board of Elections.
But chairperson of the fifth ward says it's more than that.
"We have a lot of low income families. It's not just where people can jump in a car and drive a few extra blocks, a lot of the people walk to the polling areas and when you remove them from the heart of the ward and put them technically outside the ward, your disenfranchising many people from being able to vote," says Mark Mazzo, 5th ward chairperson.
The committee members say many 1st ward constituents are elderly and disabled. They say changing their polling place even by a few extra blocks will make a difference.
"Being handicapped or elderly, they're not gonna try making the walk to get over there," says Springstead.
And Joseph fears the changes will bring lower voter turnout.
"Because of the disenchantment, because of physical reasons, because they don't have vehicles. People have comfort zones and with that comfort zone comes ya know, security," says Joseph.
Pam Mandryck says the Board of Elections was asked to reduce the number of polling locations to cut costs. But committee members say they don't see where the county is saving any money.
For a complete list of New Polling Places, visit:
http://www.ocgov.net/sites/default/files/election/GeneralNov2012/POLL%20PLACES.pdf
