Commission OKs polling place changes

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Where voters go to cast their ballots in 2010 will undergo a major change as a result of action taken by the Morgan County Commission at a regular meeting Oct. 27.
The commission acted on a recommendation from Probate Judge Greg Cain to remove nine Decatur elementary schools from the county’s polling places list and replace them with alternate locations. The move is subject to the approval of the U.S. Department of Justice and would become effective with the Primary Election next June.
In a discussion prior to the vote, District 2 Commissioner Ken Livingston said several of the new polling places are at churches and questioned if a violation of the separation of church and state could be involved.
Cain noted that a search for new polling places was initiated earlier in the year after the Decatur City Schools superintendent requested that elementary schools be excluded as a safety precaution.
Polling place changes are listed as follows: Precinct 3-8, from Austinville Elementary School to Wilson Morgan Park Hospitality Center; Precinct 1-11, from Benjamin Harris Elementary School to the Carrie Matthews Recreation Center; Precinct 3-4, From Decatur High School to Fort Decatur; Precinct 4-3, from Eastwood Elementary School to the T.C. Almon Recreation Center;
Precinct 3-15, from Frances Nungester Elementary School to First Bible Church; Precinct 3-10, from Julian Harris Elementary School to Decatur Baptist Church; Precinct 4-2, from Walter Jackson Elementary School to Oak Park Middle School; Precinct 3-6, from Woodmeade Elementary School to Westmeade Baptist Church; and Precinct 4-14, from Chestnut Grove Elemen-tary School to St., Andrews Church.
Cain said he had tentative agreements for the relocation of Precinct 3-5, Somerville Road Elementary School and 3-2,West Decatur Elemen-tary School but they were never confirmed.