Polling places to move

CANTON — More polling place changes are on the horizon for St. Lawrence County this fall.

The county is moving five polling places in DePeyster, Fine, Fowler and Pierrepont, said Jennie H. Morrill, Democratic elections commissioner. Voters will be notified by mail.

"We realize people are going to be upset, but hopefully for every person upset there will be 10 people who like the change," said Ms. Morrill. "We try to never make anyone have to travel too far."

Twenty election district polling places were changed in the county last year in Canton, Lisbon, Louisville, Massena, Norfolk, Hermon, DeKalb and Ogdensburg, a move that upset some residents who objected to having to travel a longer distance to vote. Ms. Morrill said having to travel farther may have discouraged some voters, but voter turnout was still high for the 2008 elections.

"It was a presidential election year, and there were so many people who were passionate about the election that it didn't seem to hold anybody back," she said. "When you consolidate to one place, the first year people might be somewhat negative about it. When we changed Gouverneur's place, people said no one's going to vote there, but now they love being in one spot."

The decision last year to reduce the number of polling places was for several reasons, including the need for fewer machines, handicap accessibility, building issues and to streamline operations.

Jefferson County elections officials announced in March that 10 districts in Alexandria, Antwerp, Brownville, Champion, LeRay, Pamelia and the city of Watertown will be consolidated.

St. Lawrence County's 2009 polling place changes are:

■ DePeyster: From the Round Hall to the Masonic temple.

■ Fine District 1: From the Town Hall to the Star Lake Municipal Building.

■ Fowler District 1 and 2: From the Town Hall and Kilkarney Courts, respectively, to Fowler Elementary School.

■ Pierrepont District 2: From the Hannawa Falls Fire Station to Hounds Haven.