Voters traveling to the polls on Election Day in Vinton County this coming week, should be reminded that some polling location consolidation has occurred for the 2025 General Election.
Since 2021, Vinton County has gone from 10 polling locations to five polling locations. The Vinton County Board of Elections decided to consolidate from five polling locations down to three polling locations this year. There will continue to be 20 precincts, but only three polling locations — Central Elementary (nine precincts), West Elementary (six precincts), and South Elementary (five precincts).
Vinton County Board of Elections Director Melissa Hale told The Telegram that the Vinton County Board of Elections had been working with the Vinton County Local School District Board of Education for the past three years on this consolidation because they were on a three-year schedule.
“We knew that the new schedule was being made so we went and spoke with (retired) Vinton County Superintendent of Schools Rick Brooks about being put on the new school schedule,” explained Hale. “He [Brooks] said it would be put on the meeting agenda to be discussed, and we attended the Vinton County School Board meeting, and we were told at a later date that they agreed to have us on the schedule.”
Hale said, “We went and spoke with the new Vinton County Superintendent of Schools Brad Silvus and Vinton County School District was glad to partner with the Vinton County Board of Elections and approved us to use Central Elementary, West Elementary, and South Elementary.”
Polling locations, and who is voting where:
- Voters residing in Elk Township, Brown Township, Swan Township, McArthur East, McArthur Northwest, McArthur Southwest, Knox Township, Zaleski Township, and Madison Township will be voting at Central Elementary (507 Jefferson Avenue, McArthur).
- Voters residing in Richland Northwest, Richland Southeast, Jackson Township, Harrison Township, and Eagle Township will be voting at West Elementary (57750 US Highway 50, McArthur).
- Voters residing in Hamden North, Hamden South, Clinton Township, Vinton Township, Wilkesville Corp., and Wilkesville Township will be voting at South Elementary (38234 State Route 93, Hamden).
Hale mentioned that the consolidation from five locations to the three will allow better flow of traffic and provide plenty of parking for all including adequate handicapped and curbside voting parking. It was noted that those using curbpside voting may call the board of elections office once they have parked in the curbside parking area at 740-596-5855 and they will contact the polling location. Poll workers, one of each party, will come to your vehicle to assist with voting needs.
She explained that they informed voters of the polling location changes in a number of ways.
“We made flyers for the May 5th Election and gave them out to voters for awareness of the changes in the new polling locations,” said Hale. “Then in July 2025 we did a mass mailing to all voters letting them know about the changes that were happening.”
Hale added, “We have a great group of poll-workers and I think that they will be very happy with the new setup but I also feel since it is our first time at the Vinton County Elementary Schools we will have things that our poll workers may see that may work better and I am always open to new ideas and suggestions to look and see how we can make things work easier for all voters.”
Overall, Hale felt that the changes would be a great benefit for the county. The General Election is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 4. The polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
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