County to Use Bryce Jordan Center for Polling Locale

This is going to be an election like no other, with a heavily contested presidential race amid an ongoing pandemic. In order to help navigate the situation safely and efficiently, Centre County is planning to use Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center as a polling location and satellite election office.

The county commissioners approved the facilities use agreement with the Jordan Center at their Tuesday board meeting, stating they would be using their in-kind fee established with the university to set up the location.

Commissioners noted that there would be no additional cost to the county.

The polling location will serve precincts 24 and 44-2, which traditionally vote at the Hetzel Union Building on campus.

The 24th precinct location will be established on the concourse area of the building, while 44-2 precinct voters will utilize a location on the lower level Founder’s Club section.

“Due to social distancing and some of the social constraints at (the HUB), and the traffic of students, this will be a more dedicated space for use as a polling location, so I think it was a good choice to do that,” said Commissioner Steven Dershem.

The satellite election office will be operating at the ticket center on Oct. 7-10, 14-17 and 21-24.

On Election Day, it will be operating in the whole of the concourse area.

Commissioner Chairman Michael Pipe said the university is being accommodating with the county, using the technology that is already in place, but the election office would need to “bring up some equipment that is dedicated to the Department of State’s secure link.”

The county is also working with the university and Department of State for security at the location.