Cooke County —
Cooke County Commissioners voted Tuesday to reduce the number of polling locations for November elections by lumping voters from several precincts into the same venues.
Registered voters in the county’s 25 precincts will now cast their ballots at 18 locations across the county, with most of the consolidation affecting residents in the Gainesville and Lindsay areas.
County Clerk Rebecca Lawson had originally proposed commissioners vote to consolidate additional locations so that the county could cut operating costs almost in half, reducing the cost to employ clerks and judges and secure locations from $9,000 to about $5,000 instead.
“Basically it saves money,” she said.
Each polling location costs about $500-600 to operate, and Lawson said some precincts have been combined for the last two or three elections, but remained individual for the last general election.
However, during the meeting commissioners expressed less concern about the cost and more in regard to the impact further consolidation could have on voter turnout.
“After hearing from the people in the county, I don’t want to run the risk of disenfranchising anyone or of having anyone not have the ability to not vote,” Cooke County Judge John Roane said. “...I believe if we combine precincts in some places, some people will not exercise their right to vote.”
Roane told commissioners that he would consider consolidating precincts in the Gainesville area because of their proximity to each other.
“The only thing that I’ve heard (from county residents), is if you have to combine any at all, it probably wouldn’t hurt to combine some of the Gainesville precincts,” he said.
Commissioners eventually agreed to consolidate precincts 1, 3, 5 and 30 in which voters will cast their ballots at North Central Texas College’s Gainesville campus.
In total, the four precincts contain about 4,000 registered voters, many of whom commissioners expect will participate in early voting.
Precincts 2, 34 and 35 will also combine to vote at First Christian Church on North Dixon Street, which together encompass about 350-400 registered voters.
Additionally, the 1,700 registered voters in Precincts 4 and 37 will vote at Hillcrest Church of Christ on O’Neal Street, and again, many are expected to vote early.
West of Gainesville, voters in Precincts 19 and 21 will consolidate to cast their ballots at Centennial Hall in Lindsay.
“Even though 21 has over 1,000 voters, 19 only has 308 and it would be a logical place to where they normally go vote anyway,” Roane said.
All other precincts in Cooke County will have an individual polling location.
As a result of the decision, Lawson will have to purchase more materials, including five judge kits and additional poll books.
Other precincts considered for consolidation included 6 and 9, 7 and 8, 12 and 14 and 15 and 17.
Those who are unsure of which precinct they reside in can contact Lawson or check the precinct number printed on their voter registration certificate.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners approved an additional $9,725.88 to fund courthouse renovations.
The money will help correct bathroom floors in which drains are significantly higher than the rest of the surface.
“With the existing floor, they’ve had the drain in a high spot rather than the low spot,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Leon Klement said.
The tile was last replaced in the 1950s or 1960s, and construction workers discovered the issue while recently excavating tile.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Gary Hollowell was absent.
Local News
Commissioners vote to consolidate some precincts
- Local News
-
-
GMS student takes first place in spelling bee
A sixth-grader at Gainesville Middle School took first place Wednesday at the Cooke County Spelling Bee.
-
Seminar teaches latest in weather spotting practices
Emergency officials gave the public a crash course in severe weather-spotting during Wednesday’s seminar coordinated by the National Weather Service (NWS).
-
NWS fact sheet on storms aids spotters
Wednesday’s storm spotter education class, coordinated by members of the National Weather Service (NWS), included an extensive fact sheet about varieties of storms and the details that can arise.
-
Crisis Shelter Breaks Ground
Heavy equipment can finally get into the construction site of the Abigail’s Arms Family Crisis Shelter after several heavy rains have hit the area.
-
Property, mineral values a mixed bag
A reported boost in statewide property values, which had suffered a slight drop in 2010, suggests ongoing recession recovery
-
Morton Museum hosts Art on Tap Saturday
The Morton Museum of Cooke County is hosting “Art on Tap,” a beer- and-food pairing event featuring the art of Cooke County and portraits from the past from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday inside the Santa Fe Depot in downtown Gainesville.
-
City Council moves rezoning request ahead
The Gainesville City Council voted to schedule a third reading for a rezoning request made by a property owner in the 3000 block of Harris Street.
-
Old School Comes Down
Sections of the deserted Gainesville Junior High School building came down Wednesday, with developers planning to demolish the old school and develop a new Cooke County Boys & Girls Club facility for youth in the region.
-
Workers move ahead on interchange upgrade
Work continues on Interstate 35 frontage roads near West California Street, and officials said a closing of the nearby Star Street Bridge was expected to conclude late Tuesday.
-
Energetic fox trio settle in at zoo
A group of juvenile red foxes are in their new habitat and have apparently taken to their surroundings at the Frank Buck Zoo in Leonard Park.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
