EUFAULA – Election officials and poll workers might need some Tylenol on Feb. 5.

That’s the day Barbour County voters go to the polls to choose presidential nominees in the Democratic and Republican primaries. Voters not living in Eufaula will also determine whether to approve a fee to assist volunteer fire departments.

Anna Neville of the Eufaula Board of Registrars office warns that many voters might go to the wrong polling place. That’s because 11 newly-drawn precincts that were required by the U.S. Justice Department are in effect for this election.

As a result, Neville says approximately half of all voters will go to a different location this year. Voters have received cards in the mail notifying them of where they should cast their ballots.

Neville said many voters are upset once they read their card.

“They’re angry, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” she said.

Many voters will have to travel longer distances to vote this time since voters can only cast ballots in the precinct where they reside.

For example, a resident who lives a mile or two south of Clayton might not be allowed to vote at the Clayton courthouse, but instead would have to vote in Louisville – nearly seven miles away.

Some northern Barbour County residents who once voted at the Eufaula National Guard Armory will now vote at Cowikee. Many of the precinct boundaries are determined by roads. (i.e. U.S. Highway 82, the Baker Hill Highway, etc.)

Neville said some voters have told her they won’t go to the polls this year. She said that’s unfortunate.

“They’re depriving themselves of the right (to vote),” she said.

Neville fears other voters won’t look at the cards, and thus won’t learn about the new polling locations until they arrive at their former polling location. That is why she is pushing for the establishment of voting centers, which would allow voters to cross precinct lines to cast their ballots.

“Voting centers will allow us to have more than one precinct voting in one place,” she said.

Voters could cross precinct lines or even commission district lines to cast their ballots. In essence, there is no wrong place for voters to vote.

If enacted, the centers would also have “clearly marked tables” for voters so they could easily determine where to get a ballot.

“The justice department’s concern is that everyone has a polling place,” Neville said. “They want to make sure everybody has a right to vote.”

The county commission has already expressed formal support of the proposal. Rep. Billy Beasley said he would introduce legislation in the House next month that would pave the way for voting centers – possibly by the June election.