POUGHKEEPSIE - In an effort to streamline the voting process for this year’s primary election and save taxpayer dollars, Republican Dutchess County Elections Commissioner David Gamache has proposed a plan eliminating the need for every polling place to be open.   The Republican Party and Republican Caucus of the County Legislature support the plan.

“The County can save over $40,000 by consolidating polling sites,” said Republican Party Chairwoman Corinne Weber.  “Government must make good sound financial decisions.  This is an area where we can act in a positive way on behalf of the taxpayer and voter.”

“In the Towns of Amenia, Beekman, Dover, East Fishkill, Milan, Northeast, Pine Plains, Pleasant Valley, Red Hook, Rhinebeck, Stanford, Union Vale, and Washington there are only minor party primaries in 2008,” said Gamache. “In these 13 towns only a fraction of the number of the total number of registered voters are enrolled in one of the minor parties holding a primary.  Clearly, this is a text-book opportunity to consolidate poll sites.”

Minority Leader Gary Cooper of Pine Plains said it “only makes sense that when you have two polling places so close to each other that they share a parking lot, and there are only 53 voters, you combine them, and save money.”