County Saving Money with Polling Place Changes

by Jonathan Weaver

Voters in two Armstrong County municipalities will receive notices that they will vote for U.S. President and a few State offices this November.

Director of Elections Jennifer Bellas asked County Commissioners last night to approve the polling place changes for both a Cowanshannock Township and North Apollo Borough precinct.

Bellas explains the request to move voting booths for the Cowanshannock Township-Sagamore from Community Bible Church to Silver Canoe Campground’s recreation room will save money.

“It’s a savings of $200 per election because the owners of the campground are allowing us to use that rec room rent free,” Bellas said. “The poll workers did know this – they recommended it.”

Poll workers in North Apollo Borough recommended the polling place move (from the Borough building to the North Apollo Church of God) in that community due to outside safety complaints.

Bellas said North Apollo Church of God offers residents a carport they can drive through to vote this Fall.

The County will also save money with the North Apollo precinct change.

“We were at a municipal building and the church has also agreed to allow us to use that rent-free,” Bellas said.

Bellas recommended both approvals after walking through the sites and determining they are ADA-accessible, have multiple access points and are large enough so there won’t be interference with machines.

Voters within both precincts will receive a postcard announcing the change and signs will be posted at the former and new polling places and other local hotspots.

More than 18,400 Armstrong County residents cast their votes in April.

The deadline to make any changes or to register to vote in the General Election is October 11. Absentee ballots can begin to be submitted in about two weeks – on Monday, Sept. 19.

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