Four voting precincts in the Batesville area are being consolidated. Ripley County voters impacted by the change will not see much of a difference the next time they cast a ballot, however.
Laughery Ward 3 Precinct 1 and Laughery Ward 3 Precinct 2 have been joined together, now called Laughery 3-1.
Ballots will continue to be cast at the Batesville Memorial Public Library.
Laughery Ward 1 Precinct 1 and Laughery Ward 1 Precinct 2 have been consolidated into Laughery 1-1. Polling will continue to be done at Batesville Knights of Columbus.
Residents of Adams 3rd Precinct who also vote at the K of C were not impacted.
Ripley County Clerk Mary Ann McCoy said, “It was terribly confusing when people went to vote because they would get the [precinct numbers] mixed up.”
“Nobody will go to any place different to vote. It’s not going to change anything. It just changes the numbers on the precincts,” she added.
Citizens in those precincts will not even have to re-register to vote. She also noted that no other precincts in the county have been changed.
Consolidating a precinct is not an overnight process. McCoy said the change was made during a non-election year because of the long process that involves working with county commissioners and the state election board.
Following approval from the Indiana Election Commission, the Ripley County Clerk’s Office sent notifications to residents of the impacted areas. If a resident has not notified, McCoy recommends them to contact her office at 812-689-6115.
Combining the precincts will also benefit the county financially. McCoy pointed out, “It will save money on ballots and it will save money on the workers”
“That’s what we are here for. To try and make it better for the people of the county and to save money, not spend it,” McCoy added.
Contact the Clerks office if interested in working at a polling location during election time. McCoy said, “The county does pay for attending the meeting and for working.”
