Meridian voters used to voting at the old Lauderdale County Courthouse will need to go to a different place to cast their ballots in upcoming city elections after the City Council voted Tuesday to approve a precinct change.

 

The council amended city ordinance 4574 to change the location of city voting precinct Ward 5A from the former courthouse to 15th Avenue Baptist Church, bringing the city precincts in line with county precincts.

 

Lauderdale County Election Commissioner Brenda Harris, who represents District 2, which includes Meridian’s Ward 5, explained that commissioners had to find an alternative precinct location for voters after the old courthouse on Constitution Avenue closed.

 

Several potential locations were considered, she said, but the church, with ample parking and handicap accessibility, was best suited as a voting precinct. Church leadership is also on board.

 

“This is one of the best places we could find,” she said.

 

Election commissioners previously relocated the county precinct at the old courthouse to 15th Avenue Baptist Church and encouraged city leaders to do the same. In January, commissioners said the goal is to have as few precincts as possible spread across city, county, state and federal elections so as to limit confusion among voters and reduce instances of residents going to vote at the wrong place.

 

Harris said several free services will be operating on Election Day to help transport residents to the new voting precinct if needed.

 

Meridian City Councilman Dwayne Davis asked when residents can expect to see new voter registration cards with their updated precinct locations on it. The council, in 2023, redrew its ward boundaries based on data from the 2020 census but held off on issuing new voter registration cards until precinct lines were finalized.

 

Harris said new cards will be issued as soon as the city provides the necessary information to the Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk’s office.

 

City Clerk Brandye Latimer said final boundaries should be completed soon, and information will be sent to the circuit clerk as soon as it is available.

 

Meridian residents have until March 1 to register to vote in the upcoming municipal elections. Primary elections are set for April 1, with a runoff date of April 22 if needed. The general election is set for June 3.

 

Event Security

 

In other business, the City Council heard from Community Development Director Craig Hitt about a plan to improve security at downtown events. Hitt, whose office is involved in any events taking place on city property, said Meridian has been fortunate not to have any security issues at its events, but additional precautions are needed. After consulting with Meridian police, fire and public works, he said his department would like to purchase some additional fencing and barricades to improve the city’s security capabilities.

 

On the list, he said, are 42-inch by 72-inch plastic barriers that can be placed and filled with water so they can’t be moved, some 8-by-12 foot portable fencing and several portable metal detectors. The total cost, he said, is estimated at around $70,000.

 

The purchases were not included in the annual budget, Hitt said, and his department is requesting the council help find the money to pay for the equipment.

 

Councilman Joe Norwood Jr. said the funds can likely be found in salaries for unfilled positions and directed Hitt to get with the city’s administration to see what can be done.