Portal
Home
Calendar
Gallery
FAQ
Search
Register
Log inPortland to seek input on polling place cuts
Portland to seek input on polling place cuts
by Outspoken on Thu May 22, 2008 5:14 am
Portland to seek input on polling place cuts
The move before the Nov. 4 presidential election is bad timing and might reduce turnout, voter groups say.
By KELLEY BOUCHARD
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
Concern over a plan to reduce the number of polling places in Portland from 16 to six has city officials taking steps to make sure voters aren't confused or disenfranchised by the pending changes.
The Portland City Council approved the plan Monday as part of a $185 million city budget for 2008-09 that will reduce services, consolidate several departments and eliminate 93 city jobs through attrition and layoffs.
The city will keep 16 polling places, in addition to the city clerk's office at Portland City Hall, through the end of the fiscal year on June 30, so pending changes won't affect the June 10 primary election.
The city will reduce polling places before the Nov. 4 presidential election, which some voter advocates say is a bad time to make changes that could reduce voter turnout.
"It's not a good time to experiment," said Jenna Vendil, field director of the League of Young Voters in Portland.
Vendil and several others spoke against the reduction at Monday's council meeting. They said it will decrease voter access and increase lines at the polls, which could discourage people from voting, especially low-income voters who don't have cars.
City Clerk Linda Cohen proposed the reduction to save about $15,000 on major elections, which cost about $40,000 each.
Under the plan, each of the city's five voting districts on the mainland will have one polling place. Currently, Districts 1 and 2 have two polling places each, and Districts 3, 4 and 5 have three polling places each.
The plan also eliminates polling places on Cliff and Great Diamond islands, but keeps one on Peaks Island.
Cohen hasn't determined where the remaining polling places will be, said Nicole Clegg, city spokeswoman.
Clegg said Cohen wants to work with various voter groups to locate optimum polling places in each district and promote alternatives such as voting early in the city clerk's office at city hall or by absentee ballot. Polling places must be handicapped accessible and have plentiful parking and voting areas.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=189271&ac=PHnws
The move before the Nov. 4 presidential election is bad timing and might reduce turnout, voter groups say.
By KELLEY BOUCHARD
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
Concern over a plan to reduce the number of polling places in Portland from 16 to six has city officials taking steps to make sure voters aren't confused or disenfranchised by the pending changes.
The Portland City Council approved the plan Monday as part of a $185 million city budget for 2008-09 that will reduce services, consolidate several departments and eliminate 93 city jobs through attrition and layoffs.
The city will keep 16 polling places, in addition to the city clerk's office at Portland City Hall, through the end of the fiscal year on June 30, so pending changes won't affect the June 10 primary election.
The city will reduce polling places before the Nov. 4 presidential election, which some voter advocates say is a bad time to make changes that could reduce voter turnout.
"It's not a good time to experiment," said Jenna Vendil, field director of the League of Young Voters in Portland.
Vendil and several others spoke against the reduction at Monday's council meeting. They said it will decrease voter access and increase lines at the polls, which could discourage people from voting, especially low-income voters who don't have cars.
City Clerk Linda Cohen proposed the reduction to save about $15,000 on major elections, which cost about $40,000 each.
Under the plan, each of the city's five voting districts on the mainland will have one polling place. Currently, Districts 1 and 2 have two polling places each, and Districts 3, 4 and 5 have three polling places each.
The plan also eliminates polling places on Cliff and Great Diamond islands, but keeps one on Peaks Island.
Cohen hasn't determined where the remaining polling places will be, said Nicole Clegg, city spokeswoman.
Clegg said Cohen wants to work with various voter groups to locate optimum polling places in each district and promote alternatives such as voting early in the city clerk's office at city hall or by absentee ballot. Polling places must be handicapped accessible and have plentiful parking and voting areas.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=189271&ac=PHnws
"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'."
Erma Bombeck (1927-1996)
Erma Bombeck (1927-1996)
