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Lincoln County Changes Polling Places Amid Budget Cuts, Redistricting

By Beacon Staff

In an effort to save money, Lincoln County is reducing the number of polling places at the upcoming election from 12 to 7. According to Clerk and Recorder Tammy Lauer, some of the biggest cost savings will come from not having to maintain as many Automark voting machines, which are required at each polling place and cost $2,000 each and more than $4,000 every year just to maintain.

“Just reducing that number will save a great deal of taxpayer dollars each year,” Lauer said.

For north Lincoln County, residents in Fortine and Trego will now vote at the Fortine-Trego-Stryker Volunteer Fire Department. All Eureka residents will vote at the First Church of God Youth Center. In south Lincoln County the biggest change will be for voters in the Happy’s Inn area, which over the last few elections has only produced 65 voters at a cost of $7 per voter. Now, those residents will either have to vote by mail or travel to Libby to cast their ballot. Voters in Troy, McCormick and the Yaak will see no change, except for Yaak residents who will be voting at the Fire Hall due to better accessibility.

With the changes, all Lincoln County voters will be receiving a new voter registration card.