FOLEY - The City of Foley has voted to relocate the polling place for the City of Foley Municipal election to the Foley Event Center. At this time, this will strictly be for the municipal election in August. The statewide election in July will not be relocated due to timing restraints.

The reason for the relocation of the polling place is twofold. Due to social distancing orders, more voters can be welcomed into the Foley Event Center at once. Whereas tables with six chairs were once set up for voters, now tables will only seat three. Within the Event Center, more tables will be allowed to set up, meaning more voters will be allowed to enter at once.

Another reason is the recent approval of the council to install UV lighting systems in the Event Center. This technology kills approximately 99.9% of illnesses and bacteria in the air, making for a safer environment.

“That’s what we’re attempting to do, keep people safe and have a system in there that will kill the viruses in the air,” said council President Wayne Trawick.

“To change a polling place, you can only do it a certain distance out from the actual election and we’re far enough out that we can do it for the municipal election in late August,” said City Administrator Mike Thompson. “July is just too close and the probate judge could not change the polling place, so that’s why July will be held where it’s normally at while the municipal election will be at the Event Center. We are talking with the probate judge about potentially changing the November polling place. That could very well happen, but we’re waiting for the probate judge to confirm back.”

The August municipal election will begin at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Aug. 25 within the Foley Event Center.