Work to begin on W55 North and Henry Co. polling places are finalized

Jake Hotchkiss provided the board with the Henry County Engineering and Road Department weekly report.

May 24 the box culvert replacement on Ashe Avenue is set to begin.

W55 North of Wayland will be under construction tentatively by the April 25. Letters will be sent to those who will be most effected by this construction.

Changes to legislative districts in Henry County have required some changes to polling locations through out the southern part of the county.

“This was a legislative decision,” Commissioner of Elections Shelly Barber said of the changes.

These redistricting changes are made every 10 years after the Census.

Prior to the newest redistricting all of Henry County was under one Legislative District.

Now Salem Township, Tippecanoe Township and Center Township including the cities within them in State House District 87 and Senate District 44.

Jackson Township, Baltimore Township, New London Township Trenton township, Marion Township, Canaan Township, Scott Township, Wayne Township, Jefferson Township including the cities within them are in State House District 95 and Senate District 48.

This caused a need for a number of changes to polling places and where residents are allowed to vote.

Precinct 1 — Polling Place Wayland City Hall, 218 W Main St, Wayland — Trenton Township, Marion Township, Jefferson Township to include the incorporated cities of Wayland, Olds and the portion of Coppock within Henry County; that part of Wayne Township residents living west of James Avenue to 140th Street, east to Highway 218, south to the township line.

Precinct 2 — Polling Place Winfield City Hall, 115 N Locust St, Winfield — Canaan and Scott Townships to include the incorporated city of Winfield; that part of Wayne Township residents living east of James Avenue to 140th Street, east to Highway 218, south to the township line.

Precinct 3 — Polling Place Emergency Management Building, 900 W Washington St, Mt. Pleasant — Tippecanoe Township, Salem Township to include the incorporated cities of Salem and Hillsboro, Center Townships (excluding the portions of Center Township within Mt. Pleasant’s corporate boundaries) to include the cities of Rome and Westwood

Precinct 4 — Polling Place Veterans Hall 1, 300 W Monroe St, Mt. Pleasant — Mount Pleasant Ward 1 as defined by city ordinance and census block 190879704002039, 190879701002091, 190879703004024, 190879703004030, in Center Township.

Precinct 5 — Polling Place Veterans Hall 2, 300 W Monroe St, Mt. Pleasant — Mount Pleasant Ward 2 as defined by city ordinance and census blocks 190879703002013, 190879703002067, 190879703004015, 190879703004017, 190879703004021, 190879703002002, 190879703002014, in Center Township.

Precinct 6 — Polling Place Veterans Hall 3, 300 W Monroe St, Mt. Pleasant — Mount Pleasant Ward 3 as defined by city ordinance census block 190879703001024 in Center Township.

Precinct 7 — Polling Place Veterans Hall 4, 300 W Monroe St, Mt. Pleasant — Mount Pleasant Ward 4 as defined by city ordinance and census block 190879704005005 in Center Township.

Precinct 8 — Polling Place New London Christian Church, 2770 New London Rd, New London — Jackson and Baltimore Townships.

Precinct 9 — Polling Place New London Community Center, 103 W Washington St, New London — New London Townships to include the incorporated city of New London.

“Don’t forget about absentee voting,” Barber said.

An Absentee Ballot Request Form can be found on the County website, SOS website, or in the Auditors office.

Residents are also invited to vote in person early at the Henry County Courthouse Absentee Voting Place on the second floor.

Barber knows the changes may take some residents by surprise, but encourages those who do not care for their new polling stations to use one of the alternative voting practices.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com