9/14/2007
Media Contact:
Steve Campbell, [317] 327-NEWS
Margie Smith-Simmons, [317] 327-3690 |
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Mayor submits precinct plan to make voting simpler, save tax dollars
Indianapolis – Marion County will present a plan to the Indiana Election Commission today that will streamline the county's voting precincts and save taxpayer dollars, Mayor Bart Peterson said today.
Under this new plan, the number of precincts in Marion County will drop from 917 to 590 and will save $180,000 per election. If approved by the state Election Commission, the new precincts would be in place for the May 2008primary election. Voting sites for the 2007 municipal elections will not change, unless extreme circumstances exist.
The mayor of Indianapolis, who is also the Marion County executive, is responsible for proposing precincts in Marion County.
"Voting must be as simple, clear and fair as it possibly can be," Mayor Peterson said. "This new plan will simplify the process and save taxpayer dollars in the future."
Mayor Peterson also thanked Marion County Republican Chairman Tom John and Marion County Democratic Chairman Mike O'Connor, who both reviewed and provided input on the plan.
"Chairman John and Chairman O'Connor are to be commended for providing input into this plan, which in the long-run will benefit every voter and taxpayers of this city and county," Peterson said.
He also noted several benefits:
- Keeping voters in same voting site. The Mayor pointed out that every attempt was made, when drafting the plan, to keep voters in the same voting site.
- Lower cost. Every primary and general Election Day, the county pays salaries to the more than 6,000 Election Day workers. Under the new plan future elections would require hundreds, if not thousands of fewer workers.
- Fewer unmanned polling places. By law, county election officials must hire more than 6,000 poll workers – two sheriffs, two clerks, two judges and one inspector at every polling place – on every primary and general Election Day. This plan will make it easier to staff each polling site.
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