County moves 2 voting sites

Identification cards will be mailed to all voters affected by location change

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Two Blair County voting precinct locations are changing for the Nov. 7 election.

The Blair County Board of Elections agreed Monday to direct voters in Altoona's 2nd Ward, 2nd Precinct to the Altoona Area High School Fieldhouse, 1415 Sixth Ave. They previously voted at the ARC of Blair County building at 431 Jackson Ave.

The board also agreed to direct voters in Hollidaysburg's 5th Ward to use the Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School auditorium doors, 1000 Hewitt St., to access their precinct. They previously voted at the Blair Regional YMCA at 1111 Hewitt St.

Director of Elections Sarah Seymour told the board that her office intends to mail identification cards to all voters affected by the change. The new cards will identify the new polling location.

In addition, Seymour said that A-frame signs will be set up on Election Day -- Nov. 7 -- at the former voting locations, directing voters to the new voting location.

The county board of elections, consisting of commissioner Bruce Erb as chairman and members DeAnna Heichel and Donna Fisher, are responsible for working with Seymour's office to oversee the election, to count the ballots and to post the results. Heichel and Fisher were appointed to the board in light of incumbent commissioners Amy Webster and Laura Burke seeking re-election.

Seymour also said arrangements are developing to continue the practice of round-the-clock counting of mail ballots after the polls close. The county initiated that practice when it began accepting a state grant made available to help cover election costs.

Seymour also reported to the board that the county has already started to receive mail-in ballots. As of Tuesday, 6,588 voters had requested a mailed ballot and 1,836 had been submitted.

Voters have until 5 p.m. Oct. 31 to ask for a mailed ballot. The deadline for submission is 8 p.m. Nov. 7.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.