Mahoning county elections board expected to vote on precinct reductions
MAHONING COUNTY, Ohio- The Mahoning county board of elections may vote Friday on a plan to eliminate upt to 30 precincts in a cost-saving effort.
Election director Tom McCabe said the reductions could save the board tens of thousands of dollars.
"It's almost $1,500 a year for every precinct, so if we reduce 30 precincts, we're talking saving $45,000 a year from our budget," McCabe said.
He said despite the reductions, the impact on voters will be minimal.
"We've made sure voters are not moving to polling locations. So although we might be reducing precincts, the voters will stay in the same location they have been for the last year or two," he said.
The Reverend Lewis Macklin of the Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing OUr Neighborhoods said the proposal will reduce their voice in local government.
"Less precincts also means less representation at the government level where precinct committee, they are the same people that elect your governing chairs of various parties. Any type of reduction of that reduces access to express their right," Macklin said.
In addition to the reductions, the board is also expected to eliminate two positions at the board of elections.