While there will likely be 13 or more voting centers where anyone can vote in the November General Election in Christian County, it’s appearing less likely that the Board of Elections will reopen all 31 traditional precincts in 2022.
No action was taken during a special-called Board of Elections meeting Friday morning, but there was considerable discussion from board members, citizens and office-holders who support the centers, support going back to the traditional precincts or favor expanding the number of centers from the proposed 13.
After Democratic Board of Elections Representative Jim Gardner voiced his support of reopening all of the precincts that existed in 2019, County Clerk Mike Kem countered that the voting centers where any registered voter in the county can cast a ballot is the future of elections.
Nikki Chambers spoke during public comments and urged the board to expand voting options on the east side of Hopkinsville, whether that means going back to old precincts or putting another voting center in that area.
Kem and others expressed a willingness to expand voting center options, but just what that will look like remains unknown. There were eight voting centers in May and there are currently 13 planned for November.
Multiple speakers reminded that the voting centers were very successful in 2020 with fewer locations, while others noted the importance of an accessible precinct for those who don’t have transportation and walk to vote.
The proposed 13 centers would have a location within at least three miles of everyone in the city and within at least five miles of everyone in the county.
Christian Fiscal Court met following the Board of Elections meeting, where a motion made by Magistrate Rich Liebe to table a resolution urging the board to reopen all of the 2019 precincts was approved with unanimous approval—as Liebe says the goal is to make voting as easy, safely and efficiently as possible.
Fiscal Court postponed the purchase of any new voting machines until the Board of Elections decides how many voting centers will be open in November, but magistrates did increase poll worker pay from 200 to 300 dollars in hopes of attracting additional and well-qualified citizens to work polling locations.
One change that appears to be almost certain for November is Kem says it’s the Board’s intention for voters in Oak Grove to cast their ballots at the Oak Grove Community Center instead of Valor Hall, which hosted the voting center in May.
Watch portion of Board of Elections meeting below:
https://www.facebook.com/100064667473326/videos/1181933325685101
Watch Fiscal Court meeting below:
https://www.facebook.com/100064667473326/videos/1071390766692290