Voting precinct changes announced

More than a dozen polling locations will soon be changed throughout DeKalb County, and officials with the DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections (DeKalb BRE) said the moves are expected to “improve the voter experience and enhancing operational efficiencies.”

Following a series of public engagement meetings and online input, officials announced on Feb. 19 that the new locations for voting would be in place before municipal elections planned for 2025.

Many of the polling places are being moved from schools to other locations to “improve accessibility and efficiency,” according to the DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) website. Changes include:

• Briarlake Elementary School polls will move to Briarlake Church, 3715 LaVista Road, Decatur.
• Lawrenceville Road United Methodist Church polls will move to Briarlake Church, 3715 LaVista Road, Decatur.
• Ashford Park Elementary School polls will move to St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, 3110 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Brookhaven.
• Indian Creek Elementary School polls will move to Clarkston Library, 951 N Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston.
• Clarkston Community Center polls will move to Clarkston Library, 951 N Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston.

• Straight Life Church of God polls will move to Rowland Elementary School, 1317 S Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston.

• Columbia Middle School polls will move to New Life Community Center, 3592 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur.
• Congregation Beth Shalom polls will move to Crossroads Church of Dunwoody, 4805 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody.
• Columbia Elementary School polls will move to Columbia Drive United Methodist Church, 2067 Columbia Drive, Decatur.
• Panola Way Elementary School polls will move to Berean Christian Church, 2201 Young Road, Stone Mountain.
• Briarlake Elementary School polls will move to Bridgepoint Church At Toco Hills, 1995 Clairmont Road, Decatur.
• Barack Obama Elementary School polls will move to Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, 3430 Bouldercrest Road, Conley.
• International Community School polls will move to North Decatur Presbyterian Church, 611 Medlock Road, Decatur.
• North Decatur Presbyterian Church polls will move to Holiday Regency House, 341 Winn Way, Decatur.
• Doraville Civic Center polls will move to Forest Fleming Arena, 3037 Pleasant Valley Drive, Doraville.

Additionally, the DeKalb BRE has authorized DeKalb VRE to identify a new location for the Stone Mountain Elementary precinct, currently located at Stone Mountain Elementary School.

While the precinct changes have been approved by the DeKalb BRE, precinct boundary changes will soon also be presented to the DeKalb Board of Commissioners and publicly noticed as part of the process, stated officials in a press release. To align with municipal annexations and “enhance logistics and operational efficiency” DeKalb VRE officials are proposing the following boundary changes:

• Redraw the boundary of the Wynbrooke Elementary precinct to include the former east half of the Stone Mountain Elementary precinct.
• Redraw the boundary of the Valley Brook precinct to include the former south half of the Rehoboth precinct.
• Redraw the boundary of the Austin Drive precinct to include the former west half of the Rowland Elementary precinct.
• Redraw the boundary of the Avondale precinct to incorporate two newly annexed properties formerly in the Avondale High precinct.
• Redraw the boundary of the Woodward precinct to incorporate two newly annexed properties formerly in the Briarcliff precinct.
• Redraw the boundary of the Burgess Elementary precinct to include a newly annexed area formerly in the Piney Grove and Terry Mill precincts; and adjust the Terry Mill precinct boundary to include the area of the Piney Grove precinct south of Flat Shoals Road.

While the precinct changes have been approved by the DeKalb BRE, the precinct boundary changes will be presented to the DeKalb Board of Commissioners soon, stated officials in a press release.

“I am grateful for the invaluable insights provided by our stakeholders and voters, which have been instrumental in shaping these refined recommendations,” said DeKalb VRE Executive Director Keisha Smith. “The feedback received has enabled us to streamline our proposed modifications and advance a plan that meets the evolving needs of our community. We remain dedicated to consistently reevaluating our precinct boundaries and polling locations to ensure every voting experience is both positive and accessible.”

For more information on the proposed changes or to provide feedback, visit dekalbvotes.com or contact DeKalb VRE at 404-298-4020.