Putnam precincts changing for 2010

GREENCASTLE -- Clerk of the Putnam County Circuit Court Marty Watts updated Putnam County Commissioners on Monday on changes being made to the voting precincts for the 2010 election.

The changes will be in effect for the May 2010 primary.

"Because of the overwhelming voter growth in some of our precincts, the Indiana Election Division has requested that we do precinct splits and changes to help balance voter population growth," Watts explained.

Under Indiana statute, no county can have more than 1,200 active voters in one precinct.

"Floyd East has over 2,111 active voters, which leaves Floyd Township with over 2,600 voters," Watts said. "Washington Township has more than 1,664 active voters."

To rectify the situation, Floyd Township has been split into three precincts: Floyd East (1,198 voters); Floyd West (1,168 voters); and Floyd South (218 voters).

"By keeping Floyd South under 250 active voters, we will be able to run a poll book for Floyd South and allow these voters to vote in the Floyd East precinct," Watts said. "This will save the county the expense of creating a new polling precinct and the ensuing Election Day costs for poll workers, meals and rental fees."

The costs for those things is about $1,100, Watts said. All Floyd Township voters will still vote at the Floyd Township Fire Department at Heritage Lake.

Washington Township will be split into two precincts: Washington North (751 voters) and Washington South (902 voters).

"U.S. 40 will be the dividing line," Watts said. "Anyone who lives north of 40 will be in Washington North, and anyone south of 40 will be in Washington South. There will be two voting precincts; however, the voters will all continue to vote at the Reelsville Fire Department."

The precinct splitting process began in July, when Watts met with the commissioners, county attorney, members of the Putnam County Election Board, Putnam County Republican Party Chairman Larry Sutton, Putnam County Democratic Party Chair Jinsie Bingham, GIS mapping specialist Robbie Cudnik and voter registration deputy Stacia Gibson.

"All were in agreement to the precinct boundaries, and the mapping changes, along with the proposed order to establish these precincts, was submitted to the state," Watts said.

The state approved the changes, and affected voters were notified and asked to submit any concerns or questions before the changes were officially made.

"There were no objections," Watts said. "My voter registration office will send postcards to those voters affected by these changes."

There are now 31 voting precincts in Putnam County.