Unsure of the turnout for the greater county, Henderson County Clerk Renesa Abner believes that voters from one community—Niagara— will show up on Tuesday’s primary election.
The presidential candidates for both Democrats and Republican have all but been decided, but Niagara residents have a definite stake in Tuesday’s primary, deciding —once and for all—if the community is wet or dry.
There has been some confusion as to why the vote in Niagara is taking place. Vikas Kumar, the current owner of the local convenience store, Niagara Food Mart, said the state Alcohol Beverage Control turned down his request for a liquor license to sell beer. After that occurred, he gathered signatures early this year to get the issue put on the ballot.
Kumar said previous owners of the store, which had been called Niagara Country Store, had a license and sold beer.
Additionally, in a previous Hendersonian article, past Gleaner newspaper articles were cited that showed Niagara is wet.
Earlier this month, the Hendersonian filed an open records request with the ABC, asking for documentation that proves Niagara is dry.
In response, the ABC emailed a 3-page document that lists the precincts in Henderson County with columns “Wet,” “Dry” and “Moist.” A “Y” is placed in the column for each precinct under its classification. A “Y” is located under “Dry” for both Niagara precincts.
There is no heading or insignia on the document.
When asked for context on the document—which agency it came from, how these wet/dry classifications had been determined, etc.—the ABC referred the Hendersonian to the state Board of Elections, saying the ABC does not possess that supporting information and the election board would.
A message left with the state Board of Elections general counsel Friday went unreturned.
As the election nears, the answers are as murky as they’ve been for the past several months in Niagara. Judge-Executive Brad Schneider summed it up in a previous article: “I’m glad they were able to get this on the ballot so the local people can decide.”
Meanwhile, early voting for all the county took place Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Chase Fulcher Archery Center on Gardenmile Road. And on Tuesday, 70 elections workers will be at seven different polling locations across Henderson County, Abner said.
Those locations include:
- Presbyterian Church of Henderson
- A.B. Chandler Elementary School
- Bend Gate Elementary School
- Jefferson Elementary School
- Niagara Elementary School
- Spottsville Elementary School
- Chase Fulcher Archery Center
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.
Abner hopes voters come out to exercise their right and because of the time, money and work that goes into an election.
“We are prepared for the crowds, but I don’t know if we’ll be busy or not,” Abner said. “I hope we are.”
