Ward 1 voters from old armory will see different location Oct. 7

Published 12:33 pm Friday, September 26, 2008

Selma voters, who usually cast their ballots at the Old National Guard Armory, will see a change in voting location for the Oct. 7 run-off election.

The U.S. Department of Justice approved the one-time movement of the voting location from the armory to Memorial Stadium for the run-off election, said Jimmy Nunn, the city attorney.

The move came after the request of Ward 1 Councilman Cecil Williamson, who raised concerns that voters might run into difficulties because the Central Alabama Fair organizers also use the area at the same time.

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The fair organizers had offered to allow the city two smaller rooms in the armory and to provide other concessions, but Williamson said he feared voters wouldn’t want to fight the evening traffic as people try to get to the fair as well.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” he said.

Earlier this month, the council approved changing the voting place and moving it to Memorial Stadium, where the other precinct for Ward 1 votes.

On Friday, Selma City Clerk Lois Williams began sending out letters to registered voters who cast their ballots at the armory.

The letter emphasizes that those voters who will vote temporarily at the stadium will have their votes counted as a vote cast at the armory.

“Once arriving at Memorial Stadium, you will see signs posted directing you to an area where voting is taking place and then to a designated space for the Old National Guard Armory voters to cast their ballots,” Williams writes in the letter.