County voting districts revamped

PROVO — In preparation for this November's city elections, Utah County has approved a redesign of voting boundaries, effectively downsizing the county's available precincts.

In a County Commission meeting on Tuesday, county commissioners approved a redesign of boundaries that eliminates 33 old precincts and adds five new precincts, based on recent annexations and adjustments.

The reconfiguration was prompted by an increase of allowed voters per precinct. Instead of 1,000 voters being designated to each precinct, up to 1,250 voters will now be assigned. The increase is expected to cut down on election costs — since fewer election judges will be needed — but it doesn't necessarily mean the polls will be more crowded, says Sandy Hoffman, Utah County elections supervisor.

"I don't think it will create any more messes like (overcrowding), and if it does, then I will reallocate (the precincts)," Hoffman said.

Though American Fork, Orem, Payson, Pleasant Grove, Salem and Springville saw reductions in precincts, Provo has the biggest reduction with 15 fewer precincts.

American Fork, Orem, Spanish Fork and Springville had five precincts divided to create new areas.

In preparation for the boundary reconfiguration, county officials worked with city officials and informed them of the potential changes.

"Any of the cities where their council districts were affected, we sat down with the cities," Utah County Clerk/Auditor Bryan Thompson told commissioners. "We've talked to them. We made an extra effort to go out and make sure we didn't overlook anything."

Some of last year's election precincts were temporarily put out of service by malfunctions in new voting equipment, but County Commissioner Gary Anderson said he expected elections to go smoothly this year.

"I am absolutely amazed at how well our elections work," Anderson said. "I know that there were some glitches with the new machines, but when I look at what is involved with (elections), I am amazed that we pull it off at all, let alone pull it off well."

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E-mail: achoate@desnews.com