Two members of the Dawson County Elections Board say the county’s some 10,000 registered voters can be served by two precincts, one in town and another on the county’s east side.

Two others disagree, saying the precinct in western Dawson County near Big Canoe needs to remain open.

With board member Allen Ferg absent Monday, the five-member panel deadlocked, leaving the county’s current eight-precinct setup in place.

"We’ll probably revisit this at our next meeting on Oct. 19," board member Charlie Vincent said after the called meeting.

The board began discussing the matter after last year’s general election, when more than 68 percent of voters cast early ballots, slashing poll turnout on Election Day. The county paid poll workers nearly $16,000 for their work on Election Day. Consolidating precincts could save thousands.