Posted on September 16, 2019
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
Starke County voters have a few chances to learn about a potential switch to vote centers. The first town-hall-style meeting will be held Wednesday, September 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Washington Township Community Building. Additional meetings are tentatively scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on October 9 at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox and October 10 at a location still to be determined in North Judson.
A switch to vote centers typically means fewer polling places, but gives voters the option to cast their ballot at any of the county’s locations. County Clerk Bernadette Welter-Manuel has begun working on a draft vote center plan, with feedback from the rest of the election board.
During last week’s board meeting, she said she’s ready to start presenting the introductory and background information to the public. Some of the reasons cited for the potential switch include the number of voters who are unsure of where to vote and the number of poll workers needed for the current system. More public meetings may be held as work continues on the details of the county’s actual plan.
The Starke County Election Board plans to finalize the dates and locations for the Knox and North Judson information sessions and continue working on the vote center plan, during a special meeting to be held this Thursday. It will start at 12:30 p.m. in the second floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse.
Showing posts with label town hall meetings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label town hall meetings. Show all posts
Monday, September 16, 2019
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Starke County Election Board Debates Forming Study Committee to Research Vote Centers
Posted onSeptember 3, 2019
AuthorMichael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Starke County Election Board continues discussing the possibility of switching to vote centers, but what the next steps should be was a topic of debate during last week’s meeting.
Dan Bridegroom, serving as a proxy for board member Harrison Fields, spoke in favor of forming a study committee.
“We’re only three people,” Bridegroom said. “Who are we to say ‘This is how you’re going to vote from now on?’ By forming the committee, you will bring in people, say whoever’s the head of the fire department, the mayor, the head of the council of North Judson or Hamlet, their council members, to come in, get some people who talk to their people more than we see their people.” Bridegroom felt the committee would help Starke County voters buy in to any change, and help the county figure out whether it should make the switch at all.
But Clerk Bernadette Welter-Manuel and Board President Marcia Bedrock thought it would be better to develop a preliminary vote center plan and hold town hall meetings around the county to take feedback from the public. “To have a study committee to talk about infrastructure and technology when we don’t even have all that information, I think, is premature,” Bedrock said. “I’m not saying bypass the public.”
While switching to vote centers could eventually mean lower costs for the county, Welter-Manuel felt the main reason to make the change is convenience for the voters. “If they’re out and about, they don’t have to go back to wherever they come from to vote,” she explained. “They can vote in Knox. If they’re visiting their parents in Judson or having to take their parents in Judson to vote, they can all vote together now. There’s a lot of pros to this, and the convenience to the voter is utmost the number one reason to do this.”
Bedrock added that, other than having to sign in on an electronic poll book, there wouldn’t be much change to the actual voting process. But Bridegroom pointed out that some voters would be hesitant to switch to a new polling place.
In the end, the election board voted to hold town hall meetings to present the plan, take feedback from the public, and then possibly form a study committee if board members decide it’s necessary. Bridegroom opposed the motion. In the meantime, the election board will look into whether Starke County has adequate Internet access to support vote centers and whether the county’s IT Department has the capability to provide tech support on Election Day. Members will discuss technology and infrastructure during a special meeting to be held next week.
AuthorMichael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Starke County Election Board continues discussing the possibility of switching to vote centers, but what the next steps should be was a topic of debate during last week’s meeting.
Dan Bridegroom, serving as a proxy for board member Harrison Fields, spoke in favor of forming a study committee.
“We’re only three people,” Bridegroom said. “Who are we to say ‘This is how you’re going to vote from now on?’ By forming the committee, you will bring in people, say whoever’s the head of the fire department, the mayor, the head of the council of North Judson or Hamlet, their council members, to come in, get some people who talk to their people more than we see their people.” Bridegroom felt the committee would help Starke County voters buy in to any change, and help the county figure out whether it should make the switch at all.
But Clerk Bernadette Welter-Manuel and Board President Marcia Bedrock thought it would be better to develop a preliminary vote center plan and hold town hall meetings around the county to take feedback from the public. “To have a study committee to talk about infrastructure and technology when we don’t even have all that information, I think, is premature,” Bedrock said. “I’m not saying bypass the public.”
While switching to vote centers could eventually mean lower costs for the county, Welter-Manuel felt the main reason to make the change is convenience for the voters. “If they’re out and about, they don’t have to go back to wherever they come from to vote,” she explained. “They can vote in Knox. If they’re visiting their parents in Judson or having to take their parents in Judson to vote, they can all vote together now. There’s a lot of pros to this, and the convenience to the voter is utmost the number one reason to do this.”
Bedrock added that, other than having to sign in on an electronic poll book, there wouldn’t be much change to the actual voting process. But Bridegroom pointed out that some voters would be hesitant to switch to a new polling place.
In the end, the election board voted to hold town hall meetings to present the plan, take feedback from the public, and then possibly form a study committee if board members decide it’s necessary. Bridegroom opposed the motion. In the meantime, the election board will look into whether Starke County has adequate Internet access to support vote centers and whether the county’s IT Department has the capability to provide tech support on Election Day. Members will discuss technology and infrastructure during a special meeting to be held next week.
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