The Austin City Council passed three resolutions last week to create a new city precinct, to combine polling places and set the polling locations for the election.

City Clerk Ann Kasel said the Secretary of State informed them the newly annexed area known as Turtle Creek 2 has more than 50 voters, so it must stay within its current county commissioner and does not fall under the city’s county commissioner. Thus, a new precinct must be created for the 61 citizens to vote for their representatives.

The second resolution combines polling places for Ward 1, Precincts 2 and Ward 1, Precinct 3. Polling locations can be combined for continuous precincts in the same city in an effort to increase efficiency and save time and election judges.

Kasel requested the polling locations be combined at Hastings Gym because the location has plenty of space for the two separate ballot boxes for voters. Election judges at this location would be specifically trained for this situation.

The final resolution passed set all polling locations for the election. Kasel proposed changing the polling location for Ward 1, Precinct 1 from Riverland Community College to City Hall in the council chambers and lobby because they feel it would be a better fit and they felt Riverland’s campus was too large for voters to come there, Kasel said.

Kasel said they appreciate Riverland allowing the city to use their facilities.