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LEWISTOWN -- The petition to split the Brown Township voting precinct into two precincts was granted on Thursday by Judge Aaron Gingrich.
"It's always one of the big polling places," Gingrich remarked, as Mifflin County Solicitor Stephen Snook and Director of Voter Registration & Elections Zane Swanger addressed the court regarding the measures taken to get the word out regarding this request.
Swanger advised Gingrich that announcements were posted on all three floors of the Mifflin County Courthouse as well the Mifflin County website and that notice was sent to the Department of State and both the Mifflin County Democratic and Republican parties. Furthermore, Swanger noted the press coverage of both the initial petition and the hearing held Thursday.
No opposition was represented and Gingrich asked if there any questions from the gallery. Teresa Hobbs, Mifflin County Democratic Committee chair, addressed the question of notifying Brown Township voters in time for the November general election. Swanger responded that, upon approval of the petition, paid advertising would be established, an announcement would be posted online and at the new polling locations and new voter identification cards would be issued to registered voters in Brown Township.
"I fully agree with what they're doing here," Hobbs said.
All three Mifflin County Commissioners also attended the hearing.
"Splitting Brown Township into two polling locations, with a near equal number of voters, will benefit everybody living within the township," Steve Dunkle said. "According to state guidelines, the maximum size for a voting precinct should not exceed 1,500 voters. Currently, Brown Township has 2,400 voters. A precinct this large is problematic… in high turnout elections, such as presidential election years, the voting lines are long… (and) parking becomes difficult. I have been told that some people have not even entered the election site due to limited parking availability and the long line of voters. Too many voters at a polling location puts a huge amount of stress on local precinct election officials. These individuals are dedicated community servants who work in advance of the opening of the polling place, 13 hours of voting and many times, several hours after the polls are closed -- all for modest compensation."
Kevin Kodish echoed his colleague's statement.
"As members of the board of elections, it is our duty to exercise good judgment and reasoning when analyzing our local polling precincts," Kodish said. "A few years ago we combined some voting precincts in the Borough of Lewistown due to some low registration numbers. Here, we see the definite need to split Brown Township into two precincts, and we believe all the residents of Brown Township will be much better served, both from a timing standpoint and a logistical one, (such as) better parking conditions. We thank all of our county's voters for their participation in our democracy."
The order to grant the petition was immediately signed after approval, establishing the two precincts as Reedsville/Big Valley, housed at the Reedsville Fire Company banquet hall, and Church Hill, housed at Kish Valley Grace Brethren Church.
The local election boards will include Theresa Schaaf as Judge of Elections, Jerry Gramley as Majority Inspector and Michael Sunderland as Minority Inspector in Reedsville/Big Valley. In Church Hill, Tara Mowrey will serve as Judge of Elections, Samuel Bray as Majority Inspector and Carol Reardon as Minority Inspector.