Oktibbeha County Election Commission Chairman Myles Carpenter said voters in all districts, especially those who live close to district lines, should look a little closer at any mail they have received from commission.
After the recent census lead to a forced redistricting in order to maintain population balances, some Oktibbeha County voters will be moved to different districts, and maybe voting at a new precinct.
The commission sent out 2,600 letters informing voters whose district or precinct has changed.
But Sissy Smitherman, election commissioner of District 2 said they are still working to get more letters out. The commission’s office is having to go through and manually find the new addresses that were assigned to improve emergency response times.
“We are getting close to being finished, but we have to go in and find out what their new addresses are,” Smitherman said. “If they are falling into a new line, then they’re voting location isn’t set yet.
“You might have one side of the road in District 3 and one side in District 1.”
The only information available for the commissioners the physical addresses, which do not include names, Carpenter said. Since the only way for voters to know if their polling place has changed is through the letter, he hopes people haven’t thrown them away.
“Our letters just went to addresses,” he said. “But anyone can come by, or call and we can let them know where to vote and everything.”
If a voter goes to the wrong voting location in November, a poll worker will have an index that will have the voters new address and will be able to tell the voter where their new poll location is.
To find out where to vote in your precinct visit oktibbehacountyms.org
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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