Wood County Board of Elections announces precinct consolidations
and Polling Location changes for the November 2019 General
Election.
Background
Beginning in 2017 the Wood County Board of Elections initiated a program to equalize and consolidate the number precincts and reduce the overall number of polling locations in Wood County. The first round of changes were initiated in Bowling Green City followed by consolidations in Perrysburg City, Rossford City, Troy Township and Lake Township.
There were three main factors that led to the need for this consolidation.
Population Shift and Precinct Equalization – The continued population growth in the northern areas of Wood County has made the average precinct size approximately 50% larger than the precincts in the southern half of the county which have remained static. This has resulted in significantly higher administrative and equipment costs for the smaller southern precincts.
Precinct Election Worker Shortages – The pool of registered voters willing or choosing to serve as precinct election officials has continued to go down with the continued rise in the number of multi-income households and the increase in working retirees.
Vote by Mail/Absentee – The expanded availability and increase in the percentage of voters voting by mail or early voting at the Board of Elections has reduced the number of people at the polls on Election Day. Voters may request a ballot by mail or come to the Board of Elections office during the 30 day period prior to each election to vote during the early in-person voting.
These consolidations benefit voters by providing more cost-effective elections and better voter service at each location. Fewer polling locations allow the Board of Elections to reduce equipment delivery costs, reduce the number of voting units that needed to be purchased by the county and reduce the required number of precinct elections officials. Now all polling locations have more than one precinct and can provide a more consistent voter experience with better distribution of on-site technical staffing. Overall, multi-precinct locations improve allocation of voting equipment, offer a more accessible voting environment for voters with disabilities, as well allow for improved redundancy of resources resulting in a more secure and safe election.
In May of this year, the Board authorized the staff to begin to the process of identifying and visiting new locations, updating voter records and preparing new precinct maps. In total 25 precinct and polling location changes will be affected.
Polling Location Moves for November 2019
Bloom Township (Including Bairdstown Village, Bloomdale Village, Cygnet Village, Bloom Township portion of Jerry City Village) will be voting at the Elmwood Community Center, 7650 Jerry City Rd., Bloomdale.
Perry Township (Elmwood School District voters including West Millgrove Village) will be voting at the Elmwood Community Center, 7650 Jerry City Rd., Bloomdale.
Perry Township (Fostoria School District and Lakota School District voters) will be voting at Stacy’s Place, 625 Plaza Dr., Fostoria.
Montgomery Township West (Elmwood School District voters including Wayne Village) will be voting at the Elmwood Community Center, 7650 Jerry City Rd., Bloomdale.
Montgomery Township Southeast (southern portion of Lakota School District voters including Risingsun Village) will be voting at Stacy’s Place, 625 Plaza Dr., Fostoria.
Montgomery Township Northeast (northern portion of Lakota School District voters including Bradner Village) will be voting at Pemberville American Legion #183, 405 E. Front St., Pemberville.
Portage Township (Elmwood School District voters including Portage Township portion of Jerry City Village) will be voting at the Elmwood Community Center, 7650 Jerry City Rd., Bloomdale.
Portage Township (Bowling Green School District voters) will be voting at the Portage Christ UM Church, 301 W Main St., Portage.
Liberty Township will be voting at the Portage Christ UM Church, 301 W Main St., Portage.
North Baltimore Village will be voting at Hancock-Wood Electrical Co-op, 1399 Business Park Dr., S, North Baltimore.
Jackson Township (including Hoytville Village) will be voting at Hancock-Wood Electrical Co-op, 1399 Business Park Dr., S, North Baltimore.
Milton Township (Including Custar Village and Milton Center Village) will be voting at Weston Emergency Services Building, 20761 Taylor St., Weston.
Plain Township will be voting at Junior Fair Building, Wood County Fairgrounds, 13800 W. PoeRd., Bowling Green.
Center Township will be voting at Junior Fair Building, Wood County Fairgrounds, 13800 W. Poe Rd., Bowling Green.
Webster Township will be voting at Pemberville American Legion #183, 405 E. Front St., Pemberville.
Freedom Township (including Pemberville Village) will be voting at Pemberville American Legion #183, 405 E. Front St., Pemberville.
Northwood City will be voting at Northwood Local School District Offices, 700 Lemoyne Rd., Northwood.
Voter Notifications
All voters that have a new precinct number or polling location change will be mailed a postcard that they should receive by no later than the end of September. This post card will inform the voter of their new precinct and/or polling location and the address. Voters who wish to look up their precinct and polling location may also do so on the Board of Elections website at:
www.co.wood.oh.us/BOE/ Updated Precinct maps are also available.
Absentee/Early Vote Options
All Wood County voters may also take advantage of the option to vote by mail. Voters that wish to vote by mail can download an Absentee Application Form from either the Board of Elections website or the Ohio Secretary of State website at: voteohio.gov Voters can complete the application and then mail it to the Wood County Board of Elections, One Courthouse Square,
Bowling Green, Ohio 43402. Ballots are mailed beginning 30 days prior to each election andcontinue until the Saturday before Election Day.
Voters can choose to vote early in-person at the Board of Elections office located at the Wood County Courthouse in Bowling Green. Early Voting hours are: Oct. 8th – Oct. 25th M – F 8 a.m. -5 p.m.; Oct. 28th – Nov. 1st M – F 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday Nov. 2nd 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sunday Nov. 3rd 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Mon. Nov. 4th 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.