In an effort to save money and increase efficiency, three Yazoo County voting precincts have been combined with other precincts within their areas.
“We are combining some precincts to make it more feasible and less costly,” said Circuit Clerk Robert Coleman, during the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors meeting.
The three precincts that will combine with others include:
• The Dover precinct will join the Robinette precinct.
Jerry Alexander, election commissioner for District 1, said the Robinette precinct is better suited for the public and will accommodate Dover’s roughly 500 voters.
“The Robinette precinct is a nice facility with bathrooms in it, and it will house a lot of people,” Alexander said. “The little Dover building is just deteriorating.”
Alexander also said portable restrooms must be brought to the Dover precinct, adding more cost.
“I feel Robinette is just a better scenario,” Alexander said.
• The East and West Midway precinct will combine.
Supervisor Jayne Dew agreed combining the two District Four precincts is more efficient, adding they are already housed in the same building.
“You are driving to the same building and using the same parking lot,” she said.
• The Harttown precinct will join the Deasonville precinct.
With around 362 Harttown voters, District 2 Election Commission Virginia Matthews said the Deasonville facility will handle the additional people efficiently.
Matthews said the Harttown precinct is falling apart and has been the site of many acts of vandalism, posing a safety threat.
“We have also had a really hard time getting workers because they feel unsafe,” she added.
Matthews said the two precincts are only a few miles apart, and the transition should go smoothly,
“We are trying to make all transitions go smoothly,” Coleman said. “It saves money because we need less workers and will no longer have to get portable bathrooms. It’s a win, win.”
• Gretta Winters, election commissioner for District Three, also asked that the county board consider moving their voting place out of the Washington Street fire station. She said it has become more difficult at that location.
“The fire chief has got a problem, but we have been out there for years,” said Supervisor Willie Wright. “You can tell there is some animosity there.”
