The Centre County Commissioners agreed yesterday to petition the Court of Common Pleas for permission to combine four University voting precincts into one for the municipal primary election on May 16.

Commissioners' office spokeswoman Donna Spicher said the commissioners decided to petition for the one-time-only change because of the University schedule.

"None of the students will be here because (the election falls) between spring semester and summer sessions," Spicher said.

Spicher said the process of officially changing the election site is expected to take one week.

The four voting sites are the Findlay Rec Room in East Halls; the Stephens Hall Rec Room in South Halls; the Pollock Rec Room in Pollock Halls; and the Hamilton Lounge in West Halls.

Spicher said the commissioners are considering the HUB as a central location for campus balloting but that decision has not been finalized.

The major race in the 1989 local primary will be the campaign for State College Borough Council. Three candidates from each party hope to find seats on the council next year.

Republican candidates include incumbents Jerry Wettstone, a local realtor; Ruth Lavin, also Centre Region Council of Governments chairwoman; and F. Dan Winand, a former State College Planning Commission and Water Authority member.

Democrats include University student Ron Marlow, who will attend graduate school here; former Centre Daily Times executive editor William Welch; and Central Intermediate Unit employee Margaret Abrashoff.

Elections Office spokeswoman Mary Corman said absentee ballot applications are currently available by mail or at the office for students who will be out of the area May 16.

The applications have been made available in past years through the Undergraduate Student Government, Corman said, though as yet no plans have been made to do so this year.

Absentee ballot applications must be received at the courthouse by May 9 for the May 16 election. Completed ballots must be returned to the courthouse by May 12.

Students wishing applications may write to the Elections Office, Centre County Courthouse, Bellefonte, Pa. 16823.