Polling place in Menallen Township changed
The Fayette County Election Board in a 3-0 vote Tuesday approved the temporary change of a polling place in Menallen Township, three weeks before Election Day.
Menallen Township District 3’s polling place has been temporarily changed to First Christian Church of New Salem at 800 New Salem Road, Uniontown, PA 15401 instead of New Salem Fire Hall at 14 Church St., New Salem, PA 15468.
Cheryl Karol, Fayette County Election Bureau clerk, explained that structural issues with the fire hall’s roof precluded it from being a polling place next month, also noting that First Christian Church was compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and “beautiful.”
“It’s pretty much about the only place we can find, and it’s getting down to the wire,” Karol said.
Karol reported that 607 voters in Menallen Township District 3 will be affected and notified of the polling place change.
While First Christian Church is in Menallen Township District 2 rather than District 3, Karol said it was her understanding that the church is close to the border of District 3.
“As far as affecting anybody adversely, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem,” Karol told the board, comprised of Fayette County Commissioners Angela M. Zimmerlink, Vincent A. Vicites and Dave Lohr.
Karol said that the bureau surveyed three other potential polling places but did not receive calls back from two of them. A third, Newboro Indian Club, was not ADA compliant, Karol said.
Zimmerlink said that election bureau Director Larry Blosser, who was absent from the meeting, had said he would be looking for another building within District 3 for the next election, but Karol noted the potential for New Salem Fire Hall to renovate its way back to polling place status by the next election.