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The number of voting machines for the Sept. 15 primary election has been reduced from 165 to 74.

The Board of Aldermen voted in a special meeting Monday to make the change, accepting a recommendation from the Frederick County Board of Elections.

The elections board suggested the reduction because the number of polling places was consolidated from several schools into five churches and the William Talley Recreation Center this year, said Anne Leffler, president of the board of election supervisors. The elections board will take another look at the decision after the Sept.15 primary voter turnout numbers are in.

The reduction of voting booths is not anticipated to affect lines on Election Day, Leffler said, and the reduction will save the city about $9,000 in election equipment costs.

"This actually is going to be better, not only for the city, but also for the voters," Leffler said. "We want no inconvenience for any voters. We want them to go to the polls and vote."

However, some aldermen expressed concerns at the meeting about the number of changes that voters will have to adjust to in this year's election, particularly the inconvenient change in polling places from schools to churches.

Registered voters were mailed notification cards informing them of their new polling places two weeks ago, though some aldermen said they have received complaints that the cards are confusing. The notification cards are used statewide, said Stuart Harvey, director of the Frederick County Board of Elections.

City leaders proposed that the city consider placing signs on school buildings and having volunteers at City Hall and at schools that once served as polling places to direct voters to their newly designated polling places.

"We talk about changing the date of the election because of turnout, yet we know it's setting up to be a low turnout and we need to do everything we can to make sure people know where they're going," said Alderman Donna Kuzemchak (D), who is seeking re-election this year.

City Hall has a map of the new polling places, and voters can find a map of the new polling places and the city's Web site can provide a polling place based on an address.