MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County Election Commission has announced the precinct consolidations finalized at the March 19 meeting. This brings the total number of voting precincts from 219 to 171.
The consolidations include multiple Bartlett precinct changes. [Editor’s note: See our earlier story that contains links to the new precinct maps as proposed.]
The state’s average precinct size is 3,400 voters. After finalizing the precinct consolidations, the average size in Shelby County is 3,200.
“With fewer precincts, we can shift election officials once used to staff smaller precincts, to the newly consolidated ones, which will enable us to allocate more poll workers, where voter traffic is higher,” said Richard Holden, administrator of elections.
Input from the public was extremely important in making this project a success, he said. “Their participation at the public meetings was vital to complete the consolidations. We were pleased with their input.”
The first of two special meetings to discussion the consolidations (which were split into two groups) was on Feb. 4. Winter weather conditions delayed the meeting to discuss the second consolidations from March 4 until March 11.
The commission also ran ads, distributed press releases to the media and, with the help of Steve Shular, public affairs officer for mayor Mark Luttrell, spread the word to hundreds of community groups and neighborhood associations throughout the county.
Each voter whose polling place has changed will be notified by mail and sent a new voter registration card.
For additional information, including the list of precinct consolidations, visit shelbyvote.com.
