More than 900 Athens city residents will be represented by a different councilperson after City Council approves new voting precincts.
Athens City Council Clerk Debbie Walker said the city redrew the voter wards to make the precinct populations more equal.
The Athens County Board of Elections is responsible for deciding the precincts after City Council decided on the new wards shortly before the 2012 elections, Board of Elections Deputy Director Penny Brooks said.
The city changes the districts about every 10 years, Brooks said.
The Board of Elections started drawing up the new precinct plans on Jan. 22, but City Council will have to approve the plans, Council President Jim Sands said.
The 4th Ward had the least number of registered voters during the last election with 4,419, followed by the 2nd Ward with 5,164, according to 2012 election results.
About 180 residences from the 1st Ward will be moved into the 3rd Ward, including numerous residents on North Congress, Mound and North Lancaster Streets, according to information from the Board of Elections.
About 420 residences from the 1st Ward will be moved to the 4th Ward, including those in Lincoln, Biddle, Perkins and Shively Halls. And about 135 residences from the 2nd and 3rd wards will be moved into the 1st Ward.
Sands said he knew the Board of Elections was planning to consolidate some of the precincts and change some polling locations.
“I know they don’t like having a (polling) location at The Ridges because the lighting is really bad, and they want to find a better location,” Sands said.
Sands said he couldn’t remember a time when the council didn’t accept the changes.
Pete Couladis, chairman of the Athens County Republicans, said he had not heard about the precincts being changed and declined to comment on how it might affect the next election.
Kathy Hecht, chairwoman of the Athens County Democrats, could not be reached for comment.
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