Clark County moving early in-person voting location, 2 other Election Day locations

CLARK COUNTY — The Clark County Board of Elections is moving its early in-person voting location this year in order to comply with social distancing guidelines --ahead of an expected ’record-breaking’ voter turnout.

Usually, early voting takes place at the Clark County Board of Elections Office on East Main Street. This year, it will be held at Clark State’s Turner Studio Theatre, part of the Performing Arts Center, in downtown Springfield.

“We had six check-in spots here at the board of elections but with social distancing, that would have to be cut down to three,” Clark County Board of Elections Director Jason Baker told News Center 7′s Jenna Lawson.

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Baker said the at Turner Studio Theatre, there is enough space to safely have eight check-in spots for early voters.

Voters will wait outside on either end of the sidewalks leading to the theatre. They will then check in with volunteers in the lobby area and cast their ballots in the theatre space, before they exit out of a back door.

There are additional changes to two other polling locations on Election Day.

Voting at the Pitchin Fire House will move to Locust Hills Golf Course for 2020, while voting at the Tremont City Municipal Building will be permanently moved to Lawrenceville Church of God -- which has a larger gymnasium space.

The changes brought on the by pandemic come during a presidential election year, which is an especially busy time for board of elections offices -- but Baker says this year, he believes he’ll see more ballots cast than ever before.

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“Back in 2016, we had just over 12,000 mail and 12,000 in person (ballots). We’re expecting to do at least 20,000 both ways (this year),” he said.

Baker said the board of elections has spent $6,000-$7,000 on stockpiling enough personal protective equipment and disinfectants to equip poll workers with on Election Day.

Every poll worker will have their own mask and personal hand sanitizer. If voters do not have masks, they will be offered one as well as a pen to vote that doesn’t need to be returned.

The board of elections is also bringing in more volunteers this year to help with disinfecting touch points between waves of voters.

Baker said about 425 poll workers volunteered during the 2016 election and about 500 have signed up for this November’s ballot casting.

Oct. 8 marks the start date for early voting and when absentee ballots will be mailed out to voters.

Cox Media Group