LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Beginning with the November election, Lumpkin County voters will have only one place to cast their ballots and that will be the Parks and Recreation Department, 365 Riley Road in Dahlonega.

Speaking at Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting, Chief Registrar and Elections Manager Ashley Peck said the remaining six locations will close because they do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. In fact, Peck said, “very few buildings in Lumpkin County are ADA compliant.”

Peck estimated it would cost $55,000 to $65,000 to bring all seven voting locations into compliance. “And that is for the exterior only, there were some interior adjustments that would have to be made also,” she said. Peck said studies show that by reducing the number of polling places, the voting process would be 98 percent more efficient due to “resource utilization.”

Peck said by moving all voting equipment and personnel to one location waiting time to vote would be reduced from one hour to approximately one minute.

Peck further stated that the county will add one more Saturday to advanced voting for the November election and extend voting hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.