By Antonio D. French
Filed Sunday, April 2 at 7:37 AM
Allegations are circulating that a request by Ald. Freeman Bosley, Sr. (D-3rd Ward) to the St. Louis City Board of Elections to move a busy polling site to another location may confuse and disenfranchise some voters. But others say this is just one battle in a continuing fight between the alderman and a group trying to recall him.
Voters from the three precincts in the 3rd Ward that used to vote at the Fifth Baptist Church, 3736 Natural Bridge, will now be voting at Beaumont High School.
In a letter to the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners, former 19th Ward Alderman Velma Bailey, a longtime Bosley foe, wrote: "While this change in locations on the surface my seem harmless, please be advised that this new location places a hardship on voters (the elderly, handicapped, as well as those who drive to the polling site) and has the potential to deter a large number of voters from participating in the electoral process."
But Scott Leiendecker, from the Board of Elections, said that this change was made months ago, even before he became a director of the commission.
Leiendecker told PUB DEF that his research into the matter has shown that Bosley first requested the change a year ago, but that it was then denied by the Board. Then about six months ago, the alderman again requested the change. This time, the commissioners approved it. Even though he wasn't there when the decision was made, Leiendecker said the more he looks at it, "the more I see this was probably a good decision."
Contrary to some reports, Leiendecker said the new location is handicapped-accessible, has more space for voters and voting machines, and it has a larger parking lot. He also said the new location is cheaper for taxpayers -- free, in fact.
After Tuesday's election, Leiendecker said that the Election Board will look at how things went at Beaumont High School and then judge whether to keep the location or move it back for future elections.
"But to change it now would cause even more confusion," he said.
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