Election Commission Closes Cornerstone Precinct

The Putnam County Election Commission voted to keep the Poplar Grove precinct open Wednesday.

Commissioner Linda Daniel said she and her colleagues had considered closing the location earlier this year because of low voter turnout.

“It’s because of the expense and the amount of voters. There is a real concern about spending the money that way,” Daniel said. “I really feel that we need to keep it open until we have action from the redistricting.”

Poplar Grove had 83 voters during the 2016 election, but at least three people called the election commission office to oppose the closure of the precinct. Daniel said the commission will not rule out the possibility of closing the Poplar Grove in the future.

The commission did vote to close the Cornerstone precinct and consolidate it with Upperman High School. Commissioner Bill Prall said efforts would be made to notify voters of the change.

“We’re also going to put more emphasis on signage at that location,” Prall said. “That will make it easier for voters to find it, so I think that would be a plus in favor of doing it.”

1,006 people voted at Cornerstone three years ago and 453 voted at Upperman. The commission said Upperman will better serve the combined voter turnout.

The election commission voted closed the Brotherton precinct earlier this year, leaving the county with 22 voting locations.