Carbon County voters who choose to cast their ballot at a polling place may need to go to a new precinct for the upcoming primary.

On Thursday, the Carbon County Election Board, during a special meeting, voted to temporarily consolidate down to 30 precincts after the county lost approximately half of its poll workers for fear of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of the 260 poll workers are older and are afraid to take the risk, Lisa Dart, elections director, said, noting that they have about 105 workers now for the upcoming election on June 2.

Dart said that the state allows counties to consolidate up to 60 percent of its precincts during this trying time.

Temporary precincts for voters include the combination of the following:

• Bowmanstown and Parryville will report to Bowmanstown Fire Company, 259 Lime St.

• Kidder Township North and East Side Borough: Golden Oaks Village, 3 Keystone Commons.

• Franklin Township Harrity, Long Run and Independent: Franklin Township Fire Company, 2440 Fairyland Road.

• Jim Thorpe 1st and 2nd wards: Memorial Hall, East 10th St.

• Jim Thorpe 4th and 5th wards: Diligent Fire Company, 330 Center Ave.

• Lehigh and Lausanne Townships: Lehigh Township Municipal Building, 1741 S. Lehigh Gorge Drive.

• Lehighton 1st ward and Weissport: Lehighton Recreation Center, 243 S. Eighth St.

• Lehighton 2nd and 3rd wards: American Legion Post 314, 314 Veterans Ave.

• Mahoning Township Mahoning and Packerton/Jamestown: Orioles Community Center, 475 Orioles Drive.

• Nesquehoning West and East: Nesquehoning Recreation Center, 335 W. Railroad St.

• Palmerton Middle and West: Palmerton Municipal Fire Company, 508 Fifth St.

• Penn Forest Township Southwest and Northwest: Penn Forest Township Fire Company 1, 1387 Route 903.

• Weatherly East and West: Eurana Park, 560 Third St.

All other polling places will remain the same on Election Day.

Dart said the consolidated precincts will have signs and may even be split in the same building so that voters will still be voting in the correct precinct.

Signs on all affected polling places with the changes will also be posted on the doors to alert voters.

Dart said the state is funding 65 percent of the cost of personal protective equipment so poll workers will be supplied with masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, wipes and other things they need to stay safe.

Her office is also looking to see if separate entrances and exits can be made in each precinct to allow for social distancing as voters come to vote.

The county cannot demand voters wear masks while voting, but are encouraging voters to wear a mask for the public’s safety.