News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Putnam County Election Commission voted Wednesday to move the Algood Elementary voting precinct to Algood Middle School.
Election Commission Chair Phil Adams said the elementary site presented numerous complications. He said due to past water leaks, electrical outlets on the gym floor no longer work, which prevented voters from using machines in the middle of the floor. He said the schools share a parking lot and the handicap spaces are much closer to the middle school entrance.
“I’ve actually met with the middle school principal,” Adams said. “He said he’s willing to let us use the gymnasium. The gymnasium exits directly to the parking lot. It even has a cover over the door. It’s got handicap access. It’s got bathrooms. It meets all of our needs.”
The commission also voted to move a precinct line near Baxter to allow voters to use the Buffalo Valley precinct, rather than driving some 30 minutes to Upperman High School. Election Administrator Michele Honeycutt said the change would affect some 250 voters. Board Member Michael Detweiler said the Buffalo Valley precinct could also benefit from a greater turnout.
“It makes the Buffalo Valley precinct larger,” Detweiler said. “There’s obviously, that’s a small precinct to begin with, so hopefully, there will be more voters at that precinct.”
Board Member Linda Daniel said one voter from the Buffalo Valley area said he voted in Buffalo Valley years ago before the precinct moved to the BOMA Community Center, then Upperman High School. Honeycutt said both precincts are in district eight, so no state signoff is required to move the precinct line.
“The dividing line that we’re looking at meets all their requests and I think it’s going to make it much easier in the long run,” Adams said.
He said the line runs along Carr Ridge Road.
Adams said the Commission will develop extra signage for the Algood Middle School parking lot to direct voters to the correct building. He said a poll worker may be assigned to the parking lot to mitigate any confusion that could be caused by the shared lot.
