Natrona County Clerk Renea Vitto

The Natrona County Clerk posted primary election results much later than usual Tuesday night because of a new way of counting ballots, County Clerk Renea Vitto said.

The consolidation of the precincts came about after voter complaints about problems at school polling places including parking, access for the handicapped, construction and concerns about tightened security.

Voters in 20 precincts within Casper City limits will cast their primary ballots at two new and consolidated polling places on Tuesday.

Construction projects will not be completed for these schools by the Aug. 16 Primary, so the polling places had to be moved.

Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray said, "It is our responsibility as good citizens, living in this great land of freedom, to become informed and exercise our right to vote."

Voters within Casper were mailed orange cards erroneously saying they all would be voting at the Fairgrounds Industrial Building or at the Restoration Church.

Natrona County Clerk Renea Vitto said voters have complained for years about school polls with limited parking, handicap access, and even basketballs bouncing through the voting areas.

Consolidating polling places could save Natrona County as much as $50,000 in conducting the primary and general elections.

For the second time in as many meetings, the Natrona County Commission tabled the 25-year agreement about managing the Alcova, Pathfinder and Gray Reef reservoirs.

Some City Council members expressed disappointment before certifying election results Wednesday a day after voters decided Casper should ban smoking in all buildings with public access. "We had a reasonable compromise," Bob Hopkins said...