Posted on November 21, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
The Starke County Election Board members Wednesday morning discussed their initial thoughts since the rollout of the draft Vote Center plan during the joint meeting of the Starke County Council and Commissioners on Monday, Nov. 18.
A move to a Vote Center would create only seven locations for voters in Starke County to cast a ballot. Under the proposed plan, a voter can cast a ballot at any of the seven locations. Currently, voters are locked into their individual precinct to vote.
Two satellite voting locations are included in the draft plan for early voting for six days prior to Election Day and that schedule could be extended, based upon conversations during the board’s meeting on Wednesday morning.
Several written comment cards were read into the record, as well as two verbal comments from registered voters during the meeting, and all comments pointed toward the desire to move forward with a Vote Center plan and become a Vote Center county. With the move, it is anticipated to save the county money, and reduce wait time at the polling site.
However, Board Member Harrison Fields still is unsure about the movement toward a Vote Center at this time.
“Why, why in the world really do we want to do this next year in a major Presidential Election? I don’t think so! Think about it,” commented Fields.
He added that he has several questions about the plan before he feels it’s appropriate to deliver his opinion on it. When prompted by Proxy Martin Bedrock, Fields asked about specific parking spots at each Vote Center and whether connectivity issues will be resolved prior to Election Day with the required use of ePollbooks if the county moves to Vote Centers.
In response to Fields’ concerns, Clerk Bernadette Welter-Manuel stated that the number of ADA accessible parking spots at each proposed location was recorded and meets the requirements. Fields wanted to know if the total available number of parking spots had to be included in the statistics. Welter-Manuel said that is not required. It was indicated that isn’t a current requirement.
If any registered voter would like to comment on the proposed Vote Center plan, submit a comment in writing on a form available in the Starke County Clerk’s Office in the Starke County Courthouse. A copy of the draft plan is also available there.
Showing posts with label vote center plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vote center plan. Show all posts
Friday, November 22, 2019
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Starke County Election Board Presents Draft Vote Center Plan to Public
Posted on November 19, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
On behalf of the Starke County Election Board, Starke County Clerk Bernadette Welter-Manuel presented a draft Vote Center Plan to the public during Monday night’s joint Starke County Council and Commissioners meeting.
The plan, which is accessible at the clerk’s office in the Starke County Courthouse and the Auditor’s Office in the Starke County Annex No. 1 building in Knox, outlines voter statistics and precincts; Vote Center and satellite Vote Center locations; the Vote Center flow chart; poll workers and procedures for Election Day; dates, locations and hours of operation; equipment and technology; a security plan; emergency response; Starke County precinct data; and election results.
According to the plan, there would be seven Vote Center locations at the Koontz Lake Property Owners Building, Hamlet Fire James R. Hardesty Community Building, Washington Township Community Building, Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox, North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department, San Pierre Fire Department, and the Bass Lake-California Township Fire Department on Election Day. Any eligible Starke County voter can vote at any location on Election Day.
Voters will sign an ePollbook upon arrival at the Vote Center in order to cast a ballot, which will also be used with in-person absentee voting, Travel Board voting, and at each Satellite voting location. Satellite voting locations will be at the Koontz Lake Property Owners Association Building and the North Judson-Wayne Township Public Library two Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays prior to Election Day.
Absentee voting will be offered 28 days prior to Election Day.
The draft plan is up for public comment until Jan. 2. Written comments may be produced and filed with the Clerk’s Office or Election Board. Comment forms are available at the clerk’s office and will soon be available on the county’s website at co.starke.in.us. Verbal comments are welcome during the next Starke County Election Board meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 9:30 a.m. in the second floor conference room in the Starke County Courthouse.
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI
On behalf of the Starke County Election Board, Starke County Clerk Bernadette Welter-Manuel presented a draft Vote Center Plan to the public during Monday night’s joint Starke County Council and Commissioners meeting.
The plan, which is accessible at the clerk’s office in the Starke County Courthouse and the Auditor’s Office in the Starke County Annex No. 1 building in Knox, outlines voter statistics and precincts; Vote Center and satellite Vote Center locations; the Vote Center flow chart; poll workers and procedures for Election Day; dates, locations and hours of operation; equipment and technology; a security plan; emergency response; Starke County precinct data; and election results.
According to the plan, there would be seven Vote Center locations at the Koontz Lake Property Owners Building, Hamlet Fire James R. Hardesty Community Building, Washington Township Community Building, Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox, North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department, San Pierre Fire Department, and the Bass Lake-California Township Fire Department on Election Day. Any eligible Starke County voter can vote at any location on Election Day.
Voters will sign an ePollbook upon arrival at the Vote Center in order to cast a ballot, which will also be used with in-person absentee voting, Travel Board voting, and at each Satellite voting location. Satellite voting locations will be at the Koontz Lake Property Owners Association Building and the North Judson-Wayne Township Public Library two Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays prior to Election Day.
Absentee voting will be offered 28 days prior to Election Day.
The draft plan is up for public comment until Jan. 2. Written comments may be produced and filed with the Clerk’s Office or Election Board. Comment forms are available at the clerk’s office and will soon be available on the county’s website at co.starke.in.us. Verbal comments are welcome during the next Starke County Election Board meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 9:30 a.m. in the second floor conference room in the Starke County Courthouse.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Starke County Election Board to Continue Working on Vote Center Proposal Today
Posted on November 14, 2019
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Starke County Election Board will put the finishing touches on its draft vote center plan today, before presenting it to the public next week. So far, the election board and county commissioners have settled on a list of seven vote center locations.
What still needs to be determined is how many poll workers will be needed. Board Member Harrison Fields felt that the sheriff’s position should be retained under the vote center model, but others pointed out that sheriffs are not normally used in other vote center counties.
The draft plan is expected to be presented during Monday’s joint county council and commissioners meeting. Residents will then have a chance to comment on it, before final action is taken in January.
Another topic of discussion this morning will be poll worker pay. Under the 2020 budget, poll workers will get a $10 pay raise, but the county will no longer cover the cost of meals. That’s drawn concerns from Fields, who has said that poll workers are threatening to quit because of the change.
The Starke County Election Board is also expected to review two provisional ballots from last week’s North Judson election. This morning’s meeting starts at 9:30 in the second floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI
The Starke County Election Board will put the finishing touches on its draft vote center plan today, before presenting it to the public next week. So far, the election board and county commissioners have settled on a list of seven vote center locations.
What still needs to be determined is how many poll workers will be needed. Board Member Harrison Fields felt that the sheriff’s position should be retained under the vote center model, but others pointed out that sheriffs are not normally used in other vote center counties.
The draft plan is expected to be presented during Monday’s joint county council and commissioners meeting. Residents will then have a chance to comment on it, before final action is taken in January.
Another topic of discussion this morning will be poll worker pay. Under the 2020 budget, poll workers will get a $10 pay raise, but the county will no longer cover the cost of meals. That’s drawn concerns from Fields, who has said that poll workers are threatening to quit because of the change.
The Starke County Election Board is also expected to review two provisional ballots from last week’s North Judson election. This morning’s meeting starts at 9:30 in the second floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse.
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