Hampton approves adding polling precinct on Hampton University campus

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Hampton University students, faculty and alumni packed the City Council chambers Wednesday to voice support of an ordinance to establish a new voting precinct on the university’s campus. Hampton City Council unanimously voted to approve the ordinance to a round of applause.

The new precinct would split the existing East Hampton precinct, which encompasses more than 4,200 registered voters who vote at Phoebus High School, to add a polling place inside Hampton University’s Convocation Center.

State law requires each precinct have a polling place within a mile of the precinct inside it with between 500 and 5,000 registered voters. With the change, East Hampton would retain roughly 2,200 voters, while Hampton University would have roughly 2,000 v