River Bend Times

Clinton County officials are reducing the number of polling areas from the usual 26 down to five polling areas, according to Eric Van Lancker, Clinton County auditor and commissioner of elections.

The areas are listed on the Our Quad Cities website. The reason for the reduction is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lancker told OurQuadCities.com that polling locations on Election Day are a requirement. He also added that voters will be voting at the location where their local precinct has set up the voting center.

“I hope we don’t have many people use the polling locations because they are voting absentee from home for their health and for the health of those working at the polls,” Lancker told Our Quad Cities.

According to Lancker, the new polling areas will not be located where they normally are. He adds that the new areas will allow for social distancing.

“We are partnering with our school districts to use their gyms and cafeterias for voting,” Lancker told Our Quad Cities. “Those large spaces in our schools will allow us to practice social distancing.”