The St. Joseph County Election Board is considering whether or not to move a polling location from the West Side Democratic Club to a church down the street.
St. Joseph County GOP Chair Deb Fleming told the board "It is unfair and quite frankly, unethical to allow a building operated by a political party to serve as a polling location." St. Joseph County Commissioner Dave Thomas was at the meeting. He called the accusations "insulting" to the people of the West Side of South Bend.
Debbie Ladyga-Block with the St. Joe County Democratic party questions the Republican party's motives and timing. "I think that they need to step back, stop grandstanding and get a grip on the whole situation," says Ladyga-Block. "We have an election coming up. We're all in this for the same purpose, a safe fair election for everyone, to bring as many voters out as we can, not to disenfranchise voters and at this 11th hour. Changing that polling place would disenfranchise many, many people."
The board agreed to a second hearing on the first week of October where both sides would be able to present evidence to why the polling place should move or stay.
