DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The early-voting site in the midtown area of Daytona Beach, which was shut down back in July, will reopen for the general election.
This decision came after News 6 reporter Treasure Roberts spoke with community leaders who were unhappy with that decision.
Leaders worried that if the location was not open for the upcoming election, there would be less African American voter turnout overall.
Roberts reached out to the Volusia County Supervisor of Elections to ask why the decision was reversed and received this statement:
“We had several conversations with members of the Midtown community of Daytona Beach. During those conversations, it was clear that reopening Charles W. Cherry Sr Cultural and Educational Center as an Early Voting site would benefit the voters of Volusia County. We are always striving to do what is best for the voters. So, the decision was made to reopen the site for this Election.”
Supervisor of Elections Lisa Lewis
Previously, Lewis said the decision to close the voting site was made because “the numbers were not there.”
She added that she would never disenfranchise someone from voting.
Election volunteer Todd Brasells told News 6 that he was “very happy” to hear about the reopening.
“People from this community walk here to vote. If they had to go to city island? A lot of them probably won’t be able to vote,” he said.
Josephine Pope, another election volunteer, said she felt as though the closure was just “swept under the rug.”
“For the people — whether they was Democrats or Republicans — we need this spot...” she said. “If it wasn’t for you and Channel 6 News and letting this segment go, we wouldn’t be where we at today.”
Click here for more information about the voting site that will re-open this fall.
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