MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Voters planning to cast a ballot in Hutchinson’s March 3 special election on a proposed three-quarter-percent local sales tax increase should take note of a significant change in polling locations.
Most voters will not vote at the Kansas State Fairgrounds as they typically do. Instead, polling for the majority of precincts will be moved to Memorial Hall, located just south of downtown Hutchinson.
Only voters in Precinct #28 and #28 EX who vote at Dillon Nature Center and precinct #34 and #34 EX who vote at Bethany Nazarene Church will vote in their normal locations.
Reno County Clerk Jenna Fager said all fairgrounds buildings are booked for another event during the election period, leaving Memorial Hall as the only suitable alternative location.
Because of the polling place change, state law requires the county to notify all affected registered voters in advance. Fager said the cost to mail postcard notifications to voters will be approximately $16,900.
Fager said that she is keeping costs down, by reducing the number of boards at the election. For this election she is using only using 8 boards instead of the normal 12 boards. Fewer election workers will keep the labor cost down for the election. Also, she added, because the city owns Memorial Hall, there will not be a rental fee as well.
Only two polling locations will remain unchanged for the March 3 election: Dillon Nature Center and Bethany Nazarene Church.
The Kansas State Fairgrounds will be hosting SkillsUSA events from March 1 through March 4, which conflicts with election operations and prompted the relocation.
Voters who are not registered or who need to update their registration information must do so by Feb. 10. Advance voting will begin on Monday, Feb. 23.