NEW CUMBERLAND -- Despite some adjustments being recommended, the Hancock County Commission will not be making any changes to the county's magisterial district ahead of the 2022 elections.
In November, the commission contracted with Atlas Geographic Data Inc. to perform an analysis and mapping of the county's precincts, at a cost of $5,000, to study whether any changes were needed following the 2020 Census.
Commissioner Eron Chek explained the recommendations from the County Clerk's Office, as a result of the study, included some minor shifts which she said would have affected between 400 and 500 people.
"There were very small changes to precinct lines," Chek said.
Even with the recommendations, the commission opted Wednesday, through a unanimous vote, not to make any changes to the magisterial districts.
Under the rejected proposal, the left side of Precincts 23 and 25 would have become a new precinct designated 23, and the right side of the same two precincts would have been the new precinct 25, according to a letter from County Clerk George Foley.
The left side of Precinct 28 would have been absorbed into Precinct 24 under the rejected proposal.
Foley's letter noted polling sites cannot have more than 1,500 registered voters assigned under West Virginia Code, and that, even with the proposed changes, the county would have been in compliance.
Foley had proposed the split as a result of the state Legislature's redistricting, with resulted in Precincts 23, 25 and 28 in Hancock County now being divided by districts for the state House of Delegates. All three precincts are located within the city of Weirton.
As no changes are being made, Hancock County voters will continue to vote at their existing precinct polling locations.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)