County officials are asking Meridian Public Schools to delay a plan that would prevent schools from being used as voting precincts.

The Meridian school board voted last month to not allow voting at city schools. Monday, the Lauderdale County board of supervisors voted to ask the district to delay that decision until the next election.

County officials say finding new precincts at this late date will be too hard.

"We will prevail upon them to let us wait until after the election," said District 1 supervisor Hank Florey. and if they do that it will be a big help to the election commission and everybody involved. "

Lauderdale County has already found a replacement for the Meridian High School voting precinct, but there are four other city schools for which replacements have not yet been found.

Changes in the location of a voting precinct must be approved in advance by the U.S. Department of Justice.