County Elections Director Jennifer Bellas asked Ford City Council to reduce the number of precincts in their borough from four to two.
By 2019, the County plans on downsizing the amount of precincts to save money and cut down on the number of workers needed for election day.
A letter was sent to multiple municipalities including Ford City Borough to reduce the number of precincts.
Armstrong County Elections and Registration Director Jennifer Bellas said it was both a cost-savings measure in addition to the County having a difficult time finding enough workers to cover each polling place.
“We have 68 total election precincts,” Bellas told Ford City Council last night. “We would like to reduce those to 62.”
Ford City has four election precincts that include two precincts (north and south) in each of two wards.
“The Borough was split into two wards in 1952 by resolution. Each ward was split into north and south in 1959 by court order. That had to do with your population at that time that necessitated the split into four polling places. You had PPG - it was booming. You don’t have that (population) now.”
“We are not asking for the elimination of the two wards,” she said. “We are requesting that the north and south be eliminated. It would take it from four election precincts into two.”
Bellas described the process of making the change.
“The Board of Elections would then work with our solicitor, our IT department. We have to submit copies of drawings and populations. It has to go to the Department of State to review. Then it goes to the Judge. Once he issues (the order), it goes back to the State for final approval.”
Bellas pointed out that both north and south precincts for each ward have voted in the same location in that ward, specifically in Ford City. However, she has had to have two sets of staff as if they were in different locations.
“As it is now, I have to find 20 people to work and staff those polls.”
Bellas said that the number of registered voters as of September 14 was: 1st Ward North 409; First Ward South 451; Second Ward North 368; and Second Ward South 485.
Bellas asked Council for a resolution.
Borough Solicitor Allysa Golferi wasn’t prepared to render an opinion on the matter last night.
“While Council is authorized to eliminate wards, I would like the opportunity to review the court order (of 1959). Per the Borough Code, you would do this by ordinance,” she told Council. “I would have to work with the County to understand what they are looking for resolution-wise.”
Bellas said elimination of the north and south precincts would not change elected council positions, since they are elected by ward.
Bellas in an interview with the Kittanning Paper following the meeting said she is also looking to merge Cowanshannock East and Sagamore, and put together North Vandergrift and Kepple Hill. She said there would also be changes to Parks Township and Leechburg Borough as well as Freeport.