JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Residents of Medina came before the Stutsman County Commission to request bringing back a physical polling location in 2022.

In 2019, the commission voted to go absentee voting only in the county outside of Jamestown due to a lack of volunteers to staff the polling sites.

Stutsman County Auditor and COO Jessia Alonge says polling locations have to be established by April 11th for the June primaries.

Alonge requested the commission approve polling locations at the Stutsman County Courthouse for absentee voting and early voting. The Jamestown Civic Center would be the polling location on election day.

Alonge says they have since received a request to return the Medina polling location for the June Primary.

Alonge says in talks with the Secretary of State, it’s recommended the polling site remain closed due to some issues that could lead to voter fraud.

In 2018, there were 130 voters who cast a ballot at the Medina site, with a cost of vote around $10.32 for the county. Alonge says this doesn’t make adding a physical site beneficial.

Medina City Commissioner Mitch Gunderson spoke to the commission, asking them to consider adding a physical site this June.

Gunderson added residents of Streeter and Woodworth are also affected by not having a polling location in Medina. He pointed out some residents are also not fans of mail-in voting.

Several others spoke about bringing a polling location back to Medina. After discussion, residents will be reaching out to school officials to see about making the Medina School Gymnasium a polling location, pending equipment and internet coverage.

The commission will wait to make a final decision at their next meeting in April.