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Polling places in East Franklin, Newburg could relocate

Voters in the East Franklin and Newburg communities could soon have new polling places if the Franklin County Commission approves a proposal from Franklin County Probate Judge Barry Moore.

The measure calls for the Newburg polling place to be relocated from the Newburg Masonic Lodge to Macedonia Baptist Church. Additionally, Trapptown voters would no longer vote at East Franklin Junior High and would now go to Full Gospel Fellowship to cast their ballots.

Moore said the Masonic Lodge in Newburg is aging and has developed some issues impacting the convenience to voters.

“It's an older building and there are some water line issues. We need a more updated building as a voter location,” Moore said.

In East Franklin, Moore said it's a matter of congestion when you combine children coming and going to school, buses in and out of the school and voters.

“With that happening in the morning and again in the afternoon, it can be difficult to vote,” Moore said.

Moore said he's spoken with precinct workers at both locations and received nothing but “positive feedback.”

The next step will be a public meeting to receive citizen input about the proposed changes. That meeting is set for Monday, May 8, at 3 p.m., at the Franklin County Courthouse Annex. Following the public meeting, a special meeting will be set to consider the vote on relocating the polling places.

“If there's not a lot of controversy we'll go ahead and vote on the moves at that time,” Moore said.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced this week a special election for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The primary is set for August 15, 2017, with a runoff on Sept. 26, 2017. The election will be on December 12, 2017, almost a year ahead of the midterm elections.

Ivey's announcement means any precinct changes must be done by May 17, 2017, Moore explained.

“That gives us time to get with the Franklin County Board of Registrars and get cards out notifying voters of the move,” Moore said. “With the special election coming up, we had to get this set as soon as possible.”

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