The Dauphin County Board of Elections today approved polling places for the new precincts of West Hanover Township. These new polling places, which will be in effect for the upcoming Nov. 4 General Election, were made necessary following the recent redistricting of the township to alleviate voters from being inconvenienced by the long lines at the polls, especially at the former Third Precinct, which had roughly 3,000 registered voters.
On June 25, an order issued by the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas increased the total number of precincts in the township from four to seven. The First Precinct was not altered, and the polling place remains the Mt. Laurel Church of God, 1295 Piketown Rd. The new map resulting from this order was approved by the Pennsylvania Department of State on July 7.
Mike Pries, Dauphin County commissioner and chairman of the county’s Board of Elections, announced that the county will host two informational open houses for West Hanover Township residents to allow registered voters to ask questions and see maps on how the recent redistricting impacts where their new polling place is located or which precinct they reside.
Both open houses will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the first one scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26, at the West Hanover Township Parks and Recreation Center, 628 Walnut Ave., Houcks Manor; and the second on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the West Hanover Township Municipal Building, 7171 Allentown Blvd.
“Residents who are impacted by these changes will have the opportunity to ask questions and view maps of the township’s seven precincts and polling places,” said Pries. “We’re also alerting voters by mailing new voter registration cards and through newsletters.”
“Visitors to the open houses also will be able to take home letter-sized maps of their new precinct and, for those who need, obtain voter registration forms or absentee ballot applications,” said Jeff Haste, Dauphin County commissioner and Board of Elections member. “The last day to register to vote before the upcoming General Election is Oct. 6.”
The Board approved the following sites to serve as polling places for the new precincts:
Second Precinct: West Hanover Township Parks and Recreation Center
628 Walnut Ave.
Houcks Manor
Harrisburg, PA 171112
Third Precinct: West Hanover Elementary School
7740 Manor Dr.
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Fourth Precinct: West Hanover Township Municipal
Lower Level/Tax Collector Entrance
7171 Allentown Blvd.
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Fifth Precinct: Mt. Calvary United Methodist Church
175 N. Fairville Ave.
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Sixth Precinct: West Hanover Township Municipal
Upper Level/Township Meeting Room
7171 Allentown Blvd.
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Seventh Precinct: West Hanover Fire Co. #1
7624 Jonestown Rd.
Harrisburg, PA 17112
“For those unable to attend either of the open houses, we have a dedicated webpage to help voters view interactive maps of all of the precincts and a list of polling places,” said George P. Hartwick, III, Dauphin County commissioner and Board of Elections member.
The webpage can be viewed by going to the county’s website (www.DauphinCounty.org), then clicking on “Government Services,” then selecting “Elections & Voter Registration,” and then choosing “West Hanover Township Redistricting Maps.”
For more information, call Dauphin County Elections and Voter Registration at 717-780-6360.