Meeting Type: BCC Regular Meeting
Meeting Date: 7/20/2021
Item Status: New
From: Wayne Dyess, County Administrator; Anu Gary, Administrative Services Manager; Harry D’Olive, Judge of Probate; and Violetta Smith, Elections Coordinator
Submitted by: Anu Gary, Administrative Services Manager
______________________________________________________________________
ITEM TITLE
Title
Voting Administration - Various Changes to Baldwin County Voting Precincts
Body
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution #2021-072 which amends Resolution #2020-132, to provide for certain changes affecting voting in Baldwin County, Alabama, in conformance with applicable Alabama law, specifically to accomplish the following:
1) DIVISION OF EXISTING VOTING PRECINCTS TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL, NEW VOTING PRECINCT AND DESIGNATION OF VOTING LOCATION FOR THE NEWLY CREATED VOTING PRECINCT
Authorize the division of Baldwin County Voting Precinct No. 41 (Orange Beach), said division creating a new Baldwin County Voting Precinct No. 51 (Ono Island) and designating The Harriett Cockrell Center, located at 31692 Dolphin Drive, Orange Beach, Alabama, as the Voting Place for said new Voting Precinct No. 51.
[Current Precinct No. 41 will be split by separating Ono Island from the precinct with the Ono Island portion being designated as a new Precinct No. 51 and the rest of the precinct remaining as Precinct No. 41. The Orange Beach Community Center will remain as the polling place for Precinct No. 41.]
2) RELOCATION OF VOTING PLACES
Relocate the Voting Place for Baldwin County Voting Precinct No. 49 (Fairhope East) from the Fairhope Avenue Baptist Church to the Homestead Village of Fairhope (Ballroom), located at 924 Plantation Boulevard, Fairhope, Alabama.
3) NOTIFICATION OF COMMISSION ACTION
a) Authorize the Chairman to execute correspondence informing the voting place(s) involved of the changes affecting voting in Baldwin County, Alabama.
b) Authorize the Chairman to execute correspondence to all county election officials (Probate Judge, Sheriff, Absentee Election Manager and Board of Registrars) informing them of the voting changes for Baldwin County Voting Precinct No. 41 and No. 49.
c) Authorize the Chairman to execute correspondence to the Board of Registrars ordering them to immediately issue new voting cards for the affected voters of Baldwin County Voting Precincts No. 41 and No. 49.
End
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Previous Commission action/date: September 1, 2020, BCC Regular Meeting - Resolution #2020-132 was adopted by the Commission, which approved voting changes.
GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE REQUEST:
Precinct 41 (Orange Beach) - Currently there are 8,600+ voters that vote at the Orange Beach Community Center, which has created issues with traffic and parking at the site. Staff has contacted the Ono Island POA and the Board of Directors has agreed to allow the County to use The Harriett Cockrell Center for voting. This will help alleviate the traffic and parking issues at the Orange Beach Community Center and allow the 1,100+ registered voters at Ono Island to vote on the island.
Precinct 49 (Fairhope East) - The Fairhope Avenue Baptist Church which is a designated Voting Place for Baldwin County Voting Precinct No. 49 (Fairhope East), has informed staff the facility will no longer be available to be used for voting. The church facilities were damaged during Hurricane Sally and repairs are on-going.
Staff has contacted the management at The Homestead Village of Fairhope, and they have agreed for the County to use its facilities for voting.
These Baldwin County Voting Precincts and Voting Places are used for federal, state, county and district elections in accordance with Alabama law, excepting municipal elections, and are designated by the Baldwin County Commission pursuant to applicable Alabama law as found at Section 17-6-1 through Section 17-6-9 of the Code of Alabama 1975.
Pursuant to §17-6-6 (a) Code of Alabama 1975, as amended, the County Commission of Baldwin County, Alabama, retains the sole authority to change the configuration, boundaries, or designation of the Voting Precincts in Baldwin County, Alabama, and, furthermore, any change so determined shall be adopted by resolution. Pursuant to §17-6-4 Code of Alabama 1975, as amended, the County Commission of Baldwin County, Alabama, is, authorized to designate and select a Voting Place for each Voting Precinct
Section 17-6-4 (d) of the Code of Alabama 1975 prohibits voting places for voting precincts to be changed within three (3) months of an election.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Total cost of recommendation: N/A
Budget line item(s) to be used: N/A
If this is not a budgeted expenditure, does the recommendation create a need for funding? N/A
LEGAL IMPACT
Is legal review necessary for this staff recommendation and related documents?
N/A
Reviewed/approved by: N/A
Additional comments: N/A
ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS
Is advertising required for this recommendation? Yes, public notice required (see attached Notice).
If the proof of publication affidavit is not attached, list the reason: Advertising will take place after Commission approval.
FOLLOW UP IMPLEMENTATION
For time-sensitive follow up, select deadline date for follow up: N/A
Individual(s) responsible for follow up: Administration - Correspondence and Public Notices
Action required (list contact persons/addresses if documents are to be mailed or emailed):
1) (Hand Delivery) Letter and Map to:
Baldwin County Probate Court
ATTN: Judge of Probate Harry D’Olive
2) (Hand Delivery) Letter and Map to:
Board of Registrars
ATTN: Chairperson Betty Sweet
3) Letter and Map (via email) to:
Absentee Election Manager
ATTN: Jody Wise, Circuit Clerk
jody.wise@alacourt.gov
3) (Certified Mail) Letter and Map to:
Reapportionment Office
ATTN: Donna Shanholtzer, Director
Alabama State House
11 South Union Street
Room 303
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
cc: David Brewer, Chief of Staff, Alabama Secretary of State
David.Brewer@sos.alabama.gov
4) (Certified Mail and Regular Mail) Letter and Map to:
Homestead Village of Fairhope
Attn: Kim Neal, General Manager
924 Plantation Boulevard
Fairhope, Alabama 36532
kneal@hvfairhope.com
Contact # 251-929-0250
5) (Certified Mail and Regular Mail) Letter and Map to:
The Ono Island Property Owners Association
Attn: Shannon L. Harrison, Administrator
28491 Ono Boulevard
Orange Beach, Alabama 36561
shannon@onoislandpoa.com
Contact # 251-980-5152
●Public Notice to media, county facilities, county website
●Update Voting Locations Physical Address List on county website
●Update Voting webpage - Notice for Change
●Upload Voting Precinct Map for Precincts 41, 49 and 51 on Probate website (CIS or Planning)
Additional instructions/notes: N/A