Some Edgerton residents are up in arms over a Platte County Board of Elections decision. Recently, the board announced consolidation of several voting precincts with Edgerton residents now assigned to vote at the Dearborn Methodist Church at 106 S. June St., and Ridgely and Shiloh residents to vote in Hoover at the Hoover Christian Church located at 15180 Highway B. The moves were made in response to dwindling numbers of poll volunteers in those areas. In Edgerton, resident Rick Roan organized a petition drive to re-open the Edgerton polling site. The City of Edgerton reposted the call to arms on its Facebook page and made the petition available to residents beginning Aug. 22 at Edgerton City Hall. While she understands the sentiment, Board of Elections director Wendy Flanigan said the petition will not change facts: there is no one to work the polls. “If you don’t have people, there’s nothing you can do,” Flanigan said. “We have to follow the law.” According to Missouri statute, a minimum of two Democrats and two Republicans are required to staff each polling site on election days. Several poll volunteers have retired, and with no one to replace them, the board was forced to take action. Flanigan said it’s too late to change anything for the November general election, as statute also requires the sites to be set and voters notified of changes well before the election. All voters residing within affected areas will be sent letters of notification and new voter identification cards from the Missouri Secretary of State’s office. If Edgerton, Hoover and Shiloh area residents really want to make a change, the best course of action is to volunteer, according to Flanigan. “We’ve told people we’ll consider opening the sites again, if we can get the volunteers,” she said. Poll worker applications are available on the Board of Elections website at co.platte.mo.us/elections/index.html. For more information on becoming a volunteer, call the office at 858-4400.

The Platte County Citizen