LEWISTON – City officials are hoping that cutting the number of polling places in half will make it easier for voters on Election Day.

City Clerk Kathy Montejo said next week’s election will be the first test for the city’s new polling places. Voters will find more than half of their normal polling places closed on Nov. 4, with directions to go someplace else.

“All the polling places now have been polling places all along,” Montejo said. “There’s no place new, but some of the polling places we closed had problems. They were too small, and we had problems getting all of the people in. Or there was a shortage of parking. Or there were accessibility issues for people with handicaps.”

Montejo said the city budget prompted the change. It was one of several money-saving measures councilors approved last spring during budget sessions. Instead of 15 of everything – including election judges and clerks, voting equipment, signs and stacks of materials – the city only has to provide eight.

“We won’t know how much we’ll save until after the election,” Montejo said. “But going from 15 locations to eight should be sizable. And we’re hoping it’s going to be easier for voters. They don’t have to figure out which of 15 places they have to go to. They only have eight choices now.”

Voters who voted at Montello School, Lewiston Memorial Armory, Hillside Community Building, the Multi-Purpose Center or the Elks Lodge on Lisbon Street won’t be affected but should expect longer lines this year.

Voters who voted at St. Joseph’s School, Androscoggin Home Health Services or Blake Street Towers will go to the Lewiston Memorial Armory at 65 Central Ave.

Voters used to voting at Holy Family Parish Center will now vote at the Hillview Community Building on Hillside Lane. Those accustomed to voting at the Meadowview Community Center or Lewiston-Auburn College should now vote at the Multi-Purpose Center, 145 Birch St. Those who voted in the basement of Lewiston City Hall will vote at the Elks Lodge, 1675 Lisbon St., this year.

Newly registered voters will continue to vote in Lewiston City Hall, as they’ve been told.

Montejo said she’s already heard complaints from some voters about the changes. Some downtown voters said they would not be able to get to the Elks Lodge, and some voters in the Meadowview Community Center and Blake Street Towers have complained about the changes.

“For Meadowview residents, the polling place used to be just across their lawn,” Montejo said. “And Blake Street Tower residents used to be able to take the elevators to their polling places.”

The Lewiston Housing Authority, which operates both Meadowview and Blake Street Towers, plans to take van loads of residents to the polls. And Montejo said two of the mayoral candidates, Charles Soule and Lionel Guay, have offered to drive voters to the polls. Anyone interested in taking either candidate up on the offer should contact Montejo, she said.

Montejo also urged anyone inconvenienced by the changes to come by City Hall before the election and pick up an absentee ballot. The ballots can be picked up at City Hall and turned in at the clerk’s office before 8 p.m. on voting day.

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