NEW CUMBERLAND – In an effort to comply with a new state law, Hancock County officials are seeking to move several of the county’s voting precinct locations.

County commissioners convened in a special meeting Monday morning, voting 2-0 on the proposal from County Clerk Karan Valenti.

“We have some locations that are going to be changing,” explained Commissioner Paul Cowey.

The changes are aimed at meeting requirements under Senate Bill 481, approved by the West Virginia Legislature in March.

Under the proposal, the county would move voting for: Precinct 1 from Allison Elementary School to the Chester City Building; Precinct 2 from the Chester Volunteer Fire Department to the Chester City Building; Precinct 5 from the Lawrenceville Volunteer Fire Department to the Chester City Building; Precinct 10 from the Old New Cumberland School to the Hancock County Health Department; Precinct 11 from New Cumberland Christian Church to the Hancock County Health Department; Precinct 19 from Hancock County Sheltered Workshop to Weir High School; and Precinct 28 from Christ United Methodist Church to Weirton Elementary School.

SB 481 removed requirements to operate precincts separately if located in the same polling location, while still stipulating that results be reported independently. It allows multiple precincts to use the same voting booths, election commissioners, clerks and ballot boxes.

Valenti explained the changes follow concerns raised during the 2024 presidential election.

“We realized how long some of the waits were,” Valenti said.

Newer electronic poll books, Valenti explained, allow voters to register at the polling location, receive a voting slip that, when read by the polling machine, will inform the machine of each individual’s precinct, allowing the machines to be used by everyone.

This, Valenti said, will prevent situations where polling locations with multiple precincts may have several people waiting on a machine for one precinct, while other machines previously assigned to another precinct are open.

Cowey and Commissioner Tommy Ogden both offered their thanks to Valenti for her efforts on the project.

“It’s better for the county, for poll workers and the voters,” Ogden said. “Karan Valenti is a tremendous asset to the county.”

According to Valenti, the county will advertise the proposed changes during a two-week period, then have time for residents to file any objections.

If no objections are made, the changes will go into effect July 23.