County moves polling place out of Chartiers Valley Intermediate School after district's plea

Chartiers Valley Intermediate School won’t be used as a polling place, after all.

The school board had requested that the Allegheny County Elections Division relocate the polling place out of the Intermediate School in a letter dated Sept. 12.

About 1,050 voters in two precincts in Scott Township used the school as a polling place.

County spokeswoman Abigail Gardner said Monday the polling place was moved because of the board’s request.

In its letter to Allegheny County, district officials requested the location be moved because, they said, it “negatively impacts our ability to operate effectively and educate our students,” and that they have fielded complaints and concerns regarding “traffic, decorum, movement of students in and out of the school and safety.”

“The district has not been alerted of this change but welcomes the news as it would permit the school to operate normally without any disruption,” said district spokeswoman Angela Conigliaro. “We look forward to talking with the election office to find out more about this change.”

Voters in Scott’s Ward 5, District 2 will now cast ballots at Bible Baptist Church, 412 Old Washington Pike. Voters in Scott’s Ward 9, District 2 will now be at Covenant-Community Presbyterian Church, 1630 Greentree Road.

Gardner said the changes are “permanent until further notice” and not a one-time change.

“Voters will receive a letter in the mail in the days prior to election day of their new polling place,” Gardner said. “We’ll also have signage at the old location directing people to the new location.”

Gardner encouraged all registered voters to check their polling place before election day. People can view that information on the “Find Your Polling Place” link on pavoterservices.pa.gov.

She said “dozens” of polling locations have moved this year, between changes before the primary election and changes happening now before the Nov. 5 general election.

Gardner said previously that, when asked, the county tries to accommodate schools who seek to move a polling place out of their buildings. But, if election officials can not find a suitable location in time for the election, there is a court order that invokes its right to use a school.

The county uses 123 schools and district buildings to host 283 precincts across 29 school districts as polling places.