Early voting begins Wednesday for the DeKalb County Election Commission at its new administrative office.
DeKalb County Administrator of Elections Dustin Estes said the county commission recently decided to implement a single-point entrance at the courthouse to improve security. This security measure prompted the election office to seek a new, centrally located facility in Smithville that could accommodate the public.
“The county commission decided to lock down the courthouse to have a one-point entrance for security reasons,” Estes said. “And so that did not grant full access to the voters, so we moved our office, and thus we have also moved the voting location.”
Estes said the new office is located at the County Complex on South Congress Boulevard. The space required a lengthy process of bidding and contractor work to finish the previously incomplete area before equipment could be moved across town.
“It’s a much more accessible building,” Estes said. “So parking was a nightmare at the courthouse. We have plenty of parking in this area. And then also we have a couple of long hallways, so it will keep the voters from being outside in the elements in the event that there is a long line for voting.”
Estes said the election day precinct previously housed at the courthouse has been transferred to the Smithville First Assembly of God on Cookeville Highway. Early voting will now take place in a room directly adjacent to the new election office inside the county complex.
“Room for improvement,” Estes said. “So we’re always looking to better process our functionality in the office to become more efficient. We’re looking down the road the next five to 10 years and this facility provides that to us. We have room to expand, not only in staff members, but also with our IT infrastructure, we have that capability here at the new facility.”
Estes said the county complex already served as the location for precinct 5-2, but the voting room has been moved to the opposite end of the building to sit next to the new administrative office. Impacted voters received new wallet cards and letters in the mail detailing the precinct changes.
“So it was a lengthy process, but we’re here and we’re geared up for elections, so all is well,” Estes said.
Early voting in DeKalb County runs through April 30.