The Columbia County Board of Elections is moving forward with changes to some voting precincts.
For the past few months, Nancy Gay, elections supervisor has been updating the board on the changes. During the June meeting, she provided a more definitive plan for the changes, which are now posted online.
These changes include splitting precinct 019 (Columbia County Health Department) due to growth and creating precinct 013 (Grovetown Macedonia Church). Boundaries were changed to pull voters from 024 (Second Mt. Moriah Church) and have them vote at 020 (Harlem Branch Library) due to the size of the church facility. Precincts 025 (Bessie Thomas Community Center) and 026(Philadelphia Methodist Church) will be combined due to being unable to grow in size and residents will vote at 025 (former Euchee Creek Library).
The boundaries were changed for 030 (Liberty Park), 031 (Grovetown Methodist Church), 033/Grovetown PSD#2, and 034 (Grovetown Branch Library, formerly Grove first Baptist). Precinct 080 (Westside Baptist Church) and 090 (Abilene Baptist Church) were combined, and voters will go to Abilene Baptist Church to vote.
To get voters out of schools, which Gay said they are trying to do, 061 (Greenbrier High School) will be combined with 064 (Grace Baptist Church) and voting will take place at the church. Precincts 111 (Lakeside Middle School) and 136 (Blue Ridge Elementary School) will be combined, and voters will go to the Columbia County Board of Education Support Complex off Riverwatch Parkway.
Precincts 063 (Riverview Church) and 131 (Journey Community Church) now have the same voting districts due to redistricting and will be combined so voting will take place at Journey Community Church.
Precinct 076 (Marvin Methodist Church) will be moved to Westminster Presbyterian Church, which will allow for additional voting equipment to accommodate growth. Precinct 120 (Gold Cross) was moved to Harvest Pointe Fellowship due to the Gold Cross facility no longer being available and become 120 (Harvest Pointe Fellowship).
Residents who want to know if their precincts have changes can do so at Columbia County 2023 Proposed Precinct/Polling Place Changes – Find Your Voting Location (arcgis.com)
If the changes are approved, affected voters will be mailed a new precinct card with the new location.
The next Columbia County Board of Elections meeting is set for July 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Board of Elections office. For more information, visit the Board of Elections website.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
