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Mercer County Fairgrounds celebrates the opening of Market Hall in April with a ceremony. County board of elections members have decided to relocate the Celina area polling site to Market Hall, beginning with the Nov. 5 general election.
CELINA - The polling site for all 12 Celina area precincts will move from the Galleria to the newly constructed Market Hall at the Mercer Country Fairgrounds, beginning with the Nov. 5 general election.
Mercer County Board of Elections members unanimously voted to relocate the polling site to Market Hall, mainly due to security concerns, deputy director Kristi Rable told the newspaper.
They signed a five-year contract with the fairgrounds to use Market Hall at a cost of $1,100 per election, the same price as the Galleria, Rable said.
Elections officials had hosted a polling site for 12 precincts - all of Celina and Jefferson and Center townships- at the Galleria since the November 2008 general election. It's a conference center and business complex with numerous offices at 909 E. Wayne St.
"Coming into 2024, we're doing an in-depth look at security. With the Galleria, really we were in the atrium," Rable said. "It just wasn't as secure because every one of those businesses have a door into the atrium. There's no camera system out there so we felt that the Market Hall was a more secure spot for us."
Elections officials in the past also raised concerns about voting equipment, which was set up in the Galleria a day before an election.
"And also with it (Market Hall) being a new building, the electrical's all brand new and up to date," Rable added.
All voters affected by the move will be mailed a notification and map with directions to Market Hall sometime next month.
"The Mercer County Board of Elections would like to thank Deb Borns and the Galleria for the many years of partnering with us to provide the Celina area citizens with a polling location," elections officials said in a statement.
Fair officials celebrated the completion of Market Hall, the first part of the Grand Event Center campus project, with a ribbon-cutting toast event in April.
Formerly known as the county engineer building, the newly-renovated, 14,474- square-foot, multi-purpose venue featuring a full-bar and caterer's kitchen can host events for up to 1,000 people.
Rable also noted that the Mendon-Union precinct polling site will remain at the Rockford Community Building for the Nov. 5 general election.
Board members in November voted to discontinue using the Mendon Fire House as a polling site for a host of reasons, chief among them security and communication concerns. In response, some Mendon-Union voters have attended board of elections meeting, requesting the site be brought back to Mendon.
They have voiced a mix of frustration, dismay and indignation, saying not only had the single-precinct polling location allowed Mendon and Union Township voters to conveniently cast their ballots close to home, but it also was a part of their collective identity.
Elections officials have explained the myriad factors that went into their decision, including pressure from the Secretary of State's Office to consolidate polling locations.
They also said it's been difficult to round up residents in the precinct to work as poll workers and noted the security of the physical location, ballots, equipment and procedures is a top concern.
"I know the board agreed to review it after the November election, but in March we saw zero impact toward the move with the voter turnout," Rable said about voter turnout at the primary election. "A few more of those (residents) early voted compared to the past but they still voted."
Board of elections director Deb Sneddon has stressed that those in the Mendon-Union precinct have the option to vote absentee by mailing in or dropping off their ballots at the board of elections in the courthouse. They can also cast an absentee ballot at the courthouse during early in-person voting before Election Day.
The county is made up of 36 precincts. Polling locations are Market Hall in Celina, Coldwater Municipal Center, Rockford Community Building, St. Henry American Legion, Maria Stein American Legion and the Franklin Township Building.
Voters wishing to cast their ballots in-person on Election Day must do so at the polling location corresponding to their precinct.
