The Vote Center Study Committee wants the Monroe County Council to participate in the election board’s work.
The committee recommends converting the county’s existing 29 polling places into voting centers,according to the final draft of the vote center study. The goal is to increase voter access. Sixty-five of Indiana’s 92 counties currently use voter centers.
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The committee also recommends opening three additional early vote centers at least 10 days before an election.
Vote center committee chair Ilana Stonebraker told the county council Tuesday that she wants to present the committee’s work at a future council meeting, with the goal of earning council support through a formal resolution.
She said the committee has reached out to council staff to get on an agenda, but so far, that has not been scheduled.
Several members of the council attended and voiced their support at Monday night’s initial public hearing. Stonebraker said the committee is grateful for the turnout, but having a formal resolution of support would have a greater impact.
“In many other Indiana counties, the fiscal body plays an active role in the vote center process, including appointing a representative to the committee and working alongside the election board from the start to assess financial implications,” she said.
During her closing remarks, council president Jennifer Crossley said she fully supports vote centers. She said having a full presentation before the council would benefit everyone, including those who have not had a chance to hear about the committee’s work.
“Again, as a fiscal body member, I think that in order for some of us to particularly support a resolution, we need to make sure we know the cost,” Crossley said.
Stonebraker invited council members to attend the county election board’s May 1 meeting, where financial impacts of the vote center plan will be discussed.
The second public hearing on vote centers is set for Monday, May 19 at 5:30 p.m.