(11-20-23) Celina, OH – The Mercer County Board of Elections met in Regular Session today and discussed the relocation of the Mendon Polling location. The Board voted unanimously to reassign the voters in the Mendon precincts from the Mendon Fire House to the Rockford Community Building. A letter to all affected voters will be sent as a notification prior to the March 19, 2024 Primary Election, with instructions for those wanting to vote on Election Day to do so at the Rockford Community Building.

The Mendon Polling Location was the smallest of the eight (8) polling locations across Mercer County, containing only one (1) precinct of approximately 900 voters. Security, communication, and poll worker availability were listed as the main reasons for the removal of the polling location.

Director Deb Sneddon explained that there have been very few voters from the Mendon area that have expressed interest in working the polls.

“We have had multiple elections where we have been unable to get in contact with the workers at the Mendon Fire House due to the lack of cell reception. Two-way radios have not worked either, so it creates a security issue,”

Sneddon added –

“Workers have to be brought in from other parts of the county to cover Mendon,” Sneddon said, “and when the number of workers can be reduced for an election, we are unable to take advantage in the Mendon, single-precinct location.”

The Board unanimously agreed with Sneddon’s assessment stating,

“we have tried many things to get it to work, but it just is not a viable option anymore. It just makes more sense to move the voters to Rockford.”

The November 7, 2023 General Election was the last election where the Board used the Mendon Fire House as a polling location in Mercer County. Mendon voters will vote at the Rockford Community Building on election day beginning with the March 19, 2024 Primary Election. All Mercer County voters will still have the opportunity to vote early at the Mercer County Courthouse during Early In-Person Voting hours.

Visit elections.mercercountyohio.gov/voterinfo.shtml for more information on polling locations in Mercer County.

Also….The Mercer County Board of Elections has scheduled a hearing  for next Monday (11/27/2023) at 10:00 am in Room 107 at the Mercer County Courthouse. 

Purpose:  To conduct a hearing on a Challenge of Right to Vote and Correction of Registration List pursuant to R.C. 3503.24