New voting center to be added in Whitley County next year

Whitley County voters in the Corbin area can expect a little relief to the long lines experienced during this past year’s elections thanks to a grant that will add help another voting center to the county’s existing eight.

Last year’s election cycle was different in many ways, marking the first in which Whitley County voters did not have a designated precinct that they were required to cast their vote at. With voters free to vote at any location, the 36 smaller precincts that existed previously were reduced down to eight “super center” voting locations.

Being the first year using that method, county officials were able to gauge what changes might need to be made moving forward. During its regular April 18 meeting, the Whitley County Fiscal Court approved a resolutions accepting an election-related grant that will pay for those changes.

According to Whitley County Clerk Carolyn Willis, the funds could be used for a variety of election-related expenses, but she felt it would be more beneficial to the county to use the money for a voting machine, which will allow for a ninth voting center to be added. The new center will be located at the Corbin Primary School off of Fifth Street.

Willis noted that the new location was chosen based on voter traffic last year.

“Oak Grove was a little bit congested last time and I don’t want voters to have to stand outside waiting like that, so I think adding a center there will help accommodate the county,” said Willis.

The newest center will not be available to voters during this year’s elections, however. Willis stated Tuesday that she didn’t think it would be necessary to add it this year, especially based on her projections for voter turnout.

“I think our volume of turnout is going to be in the lower bracket. Just from seeing how the absentee requests have come in—we actually are only a week away from when that closes—and as of right now we have only had 58 absentee ballot requests, which is very low,” said Willis. “We’ve been used to 600 requests.”

The new voting center is expected to be available during the 2024 presidential election, which Willis said she expects to have a high-volume turnout.

The other eight voting centers throughout the county include: Williamsburg Independent School, Whitley County High School, Pleasant View Elementary School, Whitley East Elementary School, Whitley North Elementary School, Oak Grove Elementary School, Corbin City Hall and Sanders Creek Church.