"Voting center" experiments in Stark and Stutsman counties on Tuesday were generally well-received, officials say.

The vote centers were open to any county voter regardless of the location of their regular polling site. The centers were aimed mainly at easing confusion.

"Usually we have just all kinds of voters calling wondering where they vote," said Stutsman County Auditor Noel Johnson. "(The vote center) is uniform and more efficient."

Johnson said officials set up three voting sites around Stutsman County and a site at the Jamestown Civic Center. He described turnout as "decent" for a primary election.

Johnson said the results of the voting center experiment will be used in deciding the approach the county will take in November's general election.

Stark County Auditor Alice Schultz she wants to make the voting center concept permanent. Stark County designated five vote centers on Tuesday - three in Dickinson, and one each in Beach and Richardton.

The county closed precincts in Taylor, Gladstone and South Heart, but Schultz said that with absentee voting and early voting, she believes those who wanted to vote had the opportunity.

- Associated Press

Both Johnson and Schultz said they were able to reduce the amount of election workers by half.

"We're getting more bang for our buck," Johnson said.