The Henderson City Council voted on Monday night to go ahead with a plan developed by the Vance County Board of Elections to consolidate four voting districts into two.
The vote was held during Monday’s regular meeting of the council.
Elizabeth Dail was present at the meeting to answer questions about the plan that was developed by the Board of Elections as a cost-cutting measure.
Before Monday’s meeting, Vance County contained sixteen voting precincts. The plan will combine eight of those districts into four for a total of twelve county precincts.
Under the plan, West Henderson 1 and West Henderson 2 will be combined with the voting station to be located at the Central Fire Station on Dabney Drive. The county commissioner and school board District 5 will be added to West Henderson 1.
North Henderson 2 and East Henderson 2 will be combined to a polling station at Northern Vance High School. Congressional Districts 1 and 2 along with Judicial Districts 9 and 9b will be moved to North Henderson 2. Also, 58 city Ward 4 voters will be moved to East Henderson 1. This is in contradiction to Dail’s statement that city wards would not be affected by the changes.
The Williamsboro and Townsville stations will be combined at New Hope Elementary School. No districting will change.
The Dabney and Watkins districts will be put together at Vance-Granville Community College. House District 32 will be added to the Dabney area.
Savings are estimated at $2,725 for the county per election and $1,310 for the city.
According to Dail, those who are affected by the changes will be notified by mail and by information placed in media sources.
Although the council voted unanimously for the plan, it must be approved by the U.S. Department of Justice before it is put into effect.
When asked by member Garry Daeke, City Manager Ray Griffin stated that the arrangement with Vance County represents a cost savings to the city. The city pays 22% of county elections and 100% of city elections.