WALKER PRECINCT CHANGES* Wilson will merge with Cane Creek, located at the Center Post Community Center* Cedar Grove will merge with Kensington* Pond Springs will merge with Chickamauga* Wallaceville will merge with Chattanooga Valley* Chestnut Flat will merge with Peavine* Daugherty will merge with Mountain* West Armuchee will merge with East ArmucheeSource: Walker County Board of Elections and Registration
By Timothy Bradfield
Correspondent
LaFAYETTE, Ga. -- The number of voting precincts in Walker County could shrink from 18 to 11 if the Walker County Board of Elections and Registration gives the proposal a thumbs-up on Friday.
What prompted the move? Supervisor of Elections Barbara Berry cites a decreasing need for precincts, based on the way voters cast their ballots in the 2008 presidential election.
"A majority of our voters had already voted prior to the election," Ms. Berry said. Georgia allows voters to cast early ballots either by mail or in person before Election Day.
Of the county's more than 33,000 registered voters, about 53 percent voted early, election officials said.
Board member James Buckner estimates the mergers will save the county at least $12,000 in costs associated with staffing and operating the precincts.
Election officials said the board already had approved the mergers when it realized it failed to publicize the proposal to the public, a required step in the process.
"It was an oversight," board Chairman Ebeth Edwards said.
So the Board advertised the intended closings and scheduled the upcoming revote.
Pond Springs resident Lisa White, who has received a replacement voter registration card listing her new precinct, says she won't mind driving an additional four miles to vote on Election Day. However, she's not looking forward to longer lines, which she predicts the consolidation will create.
"I don't like standing in line, but it won't stop me from voting," she said.
Timothy Bradfield is based in Walker County. Contact him at timothyb2010@gmail.com.