A request to add an additional county polling place in the city of Indianola did not get a vote on Monday inasmuch as the Sunflower County Board of Supervisors decided to table a request from citizen Charles Modley.
Modley asked the lawmakers to establish an additional polling site for District 3 that would be located south of the county courthouse. He said his request is geared towards making it more convenient for the voters especially the elderly, those with transportation issues and those with handicaps.
After a lengthy presentation and dialogue, President Glenn Donald said they would take Modley’s proposal under advisement.
Modley shared the voting-age population counts from the county’s last redistricting information that was released in 2013 that reflect 4,967 persons in District 3. Then mentioning the current polling places for District 3, he said, “All of them are across the track, we don’t have any in our community.”
Modley is proposing adding the Carver Elementary school site, which is currently used as a city elections site, as a new polling place for the county. “In my opinion, it would be called Central South, South Central District,” he said. Modley emphasized that the extra precinct would give the county 18 polling places.
He made it clear that he was not proposing doing away with any of the sites now in use, but simply wanted to add an additional one. Voters in District 3 currently have three places to cast their ballot. “I don’t want to take away any polling place because sometimes you don’t have enough,” he said.
Modley added that everything was predicated on convenience. “Giving people convenience to vote instead of coming way downtown,” he said.
Board Attorney Johnny McWilliams issued two cautions with regards to the request. “I think you ought to speak to the county registrar and the election commissioners to find out what the cost of that is, because there will be some costs,” he said. McWilliams referenced the expenses associated with extra machines and personnel.
In addition to that, McWilliams reiterated that Modley’s count was based on 2013 information and the 2010 census, which is about to change in the near future. McWilliams stressed that Modley’s district totals were old and then questioned Modley’s urgency in getting it done before the new census is taken.
Modley stressed that he is not asking for an immediate change that would interfere with any upcoming elections, but would like for the county lawmakers to expedite the process. He said it was long overdue. “We are really years behind,” he said. Modley maintained that 18 years ago there was a polling place on Roosevelt Street, but somehow it got moved.
Modley asserted that he understood additional expenses would be involved and maintained that everything has a cost associated with it. “Every time I go in the store it costs me, it’s a part of living. The only thing I am asking the board to do is just add the polling place,” he said, “It’s legit, it’s reasonable.” Modley maintained that the acceptance of his proposal would benefit the taxpaying citizens of what he is calling the South Central District.
Outgoing District 3 Supervisor Dennis Holmes said he would like to see a number comparison from the Circuit Clerk’s office that depicts the number of persons living south of the railroad tracks who would be voting at a new precinct in relation to the ones who are voting now.
Modley said the county is already providing precincts for areas that have less than 150 citizens, so the county needs to accommodate those persons who live in the southern part of District 3.
Holmes asked if he had spoken to the circuit clerk and Modley said he had mentioned it to her, but she has not given a definite comment on the matter.
