STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County Board of Elections approved a comprehensive set of precinct consolidations and polling location changes that will take effect beginning with the Nov. 4 general election.

These changes were necessary to address a combination of factors, including the loss or impending unavailability of certain polling places, shrinking precinct populations, and the need to provide stronger support and backup operations at every polling site, according to a news release.

“These updates are necessary to ensure a smooth and secure voting process,” said Robert Gale, director of the Jefferson County Board of Elections. “Some polling places are no longer available for our use, others are expected to become unavailable in the near future, and several precincts have experienced a significant decline in both population and registered voters. Additionally, we are eliminating single-precinct polling locations so that every site can host multiple precincts, which gives us better redundancy in staffing and equipment.”

Approximately 12,308 registered voters — representing about 27% of the county’s electorate — will be impacted by these changes. According to Gale, this is the largest precinct restructuring the county has seen in recent memory.

“This action helps us realign operations with current realities on the ground,” he said. “It allows us to maintain efficiency, remain compliant with voting regulations, and continue offering accessible and well-supported polling places.”

Precinct consolidations and polling locations (alphabetized):

∫ Adena merged with Piney Fork; voting at Smithfield Presbyterian Church

∫ Mingo A and Mingo B merged into Mingo 1

— Mingo A remains at its current location

–Mingo B moves to Harmony United Methodist Church

∫ Mingo C and Mingo D merged into Mingo 2; both voting at Harmony United Methodist Church

∫ Rayland merged into Tiltonsville; voting at Yorkville VFW Post 4811

∫ Wells 2 merged with Wells 1, now generally called Wells; voting location remains unchanged

∫ New Alexandria merged into the newly formed Wells precinct; voting location remains unchanged

∫ Wintersville D merged into Wintersville C; voting location remains unchanged

Polling location changes (alphabetized by precinct):

∫ Amsterdam — East Springfield Community Hall

∫ Bantam Ridge — Blessed Sacrament Church / Upper Sargus Hall

∫ Brentwood — Blessed Sacrament Church / Upper Sargus Hall

∫ Brush Creek — Saline Township Complex

∫ Georges Run — Wells Township Community Hall

∫ Lincoln — Smithfield Presbyterian Church

∫ Pine Valley — Friends Church

∫ Piney Fork — Smithfield Presbyterian Church

∫ Richmond — Glenn Mills Senior Community Center

∫ Ross — Bergholz Volunteer Fire Department

∫ Toronto 1A — Karaffa Recreation Center

∫ Toronto 2A — Karaffa Recreation Center

∫ Toronto 4A — Cornerstone Church

∫ Wintringer — Karaffa Recreation Center

Of those impacted, 94% of voters will see a polling location change of less than 5 miles. The shortest relocation is just 151 feet, and the longest is 9.1 miles.

“Every polling site relocation is made with thoughtful consideration for travel distance, accessibility, and the longevity of the facility,” Gale said. “Unfortunately, in some of Jefferson County’s outlying areas, very few buildings meet the strict ADA standards required under HAVA, state law, and Secretary of State directives. In a few cases, we had to move locations farther than we preferred — but those sites were simply no longer viable.”

All affected voters will be notified by mail in August 2025. Each household will receive a postcard indicating their new precinct and/or polling location.

“Please keep this card on hand — it contains essential information that will make Election Day easier for you,” said Gale.

In addition to mailed notifications, voters can verify their precinct and polling location at any time by visiting voteohio.gov, the official voter information website of the Ohio Secretary of State.

“These changes will be implemented for the November 2025 General Election,” Gale emphasized. “We always encourage voters to make a plan — know when to go, where to go, and what to bring. This year, we’re asking all voters to take just one extra step to confirm their polling location before Election Day.”

It’s important to note that these changes only affect in-person voting on Election Day. Early in-person voting and voting by mail remain available and unchanged.

If any voter has questions about these changes, they are encouraged to call the Jefferson County Board of Elections at 740-283-8522 or visit voteohio.gov.