Commissioners vote to support vote centers in Delaware County
MUNCIE, Ind. − Delaware County Commissioners unanimously backed a resolution Tuesday to bring vote centers to Delaware County.
Adoption of the resolution is another step toward making the centers a reality in the county ahead of the municipal elections slated for this year, Delaware County Clerk Rick Spangler told commissioners. With the resolution, commissioners grant authority to the county Election Board to approve the vote center plan, including to location of centers throughout Delaware County.
More:Party chairmen need more time to study vote centers for Delaware County
Spangler said the county has a deadline to meet. In order to gain approval from state officials in time for the May primary election, the election board will need to have a plan approved by March 6. Prior to that, the county must publish the plan in a legal advertisement inviting written public for 30 days. He said that missing that March deadline might push the use of vote centers off for as long as two years, after the 2024 presidential election.
"We're in a pickle," he said of the timetable after the meeting.
The centers, which have been adopted by most Indiana counties, would allow any voter registered in Delaware County to vote at any one of 25 vote centers set up across the county, according top a draft plan. A voter's polling place would no longer be tied to a specific precinct where the voter lives. Technology now allows the proper ballot, based on a voter's residency, to be produced for the voter at any one of the county's proposed voting centers.
Proponents say use of the centers, rather than individual precincts as a voting location, is more convenient for voters, who could cast ballots at locations closer to their work or other places near where the voter might already be on Election Day. The centers would also reduce the number of election day workers needed, going from 44 polling places that need to be staffed now for a countywide election to 25.
"It's such a no-brainer," Commissioner Sherry Riggin said.
The election board needs the approval of both the Democratic Party and Republican Party county chairmen to adopt a plan. Ed Carroll, GOP county chairman and county auditor, and Ana Quirk Hunter, Democratic county chairman and a local attorney, said in September they needed more time to evaluate the proposed locations and make sure the switch to vote centers would work best for local elections.
Carroll, in his role as auditor, attended the commissioners meeting Tuesday but did not offer comment. Spangler said after the meeting that he knows Carroll has been working on the issue and reviewing vote center locations.
The election board is made up of Spangler, in his role as county clerk, and one representative each of the two parties. He said he plans to get approval from the Delaware County Council in coming weeks and hopes to call a meeting of the board later this month to make sure the county is on track to adopt the centers in time.
There is no reason not to do it," Spangler told commissioners.
In other business Tuesday the commissioners reorganized themselves. Shannon Henry took the gavel to become president of the commissioners following a unanimous vote. He took over for Riggin, who handled the job as president in 2022. Commissioner James King was unanimously chosen as vice president.
The commissioners made appointments to positions throughout county government, including two new appointments of unelected department heads.
More:Election board certifies votes, moving on to vote center implementation
Brian Wilson was appointed the Delaware County Veterans Service officer. He replaces Tommy Goul, who resigned a few months ago, said Henry. Wilson has worked in the Veterans Affairs office for six years.
Commissioners also appointed Eric Stauch as the county inspector of weights and measures. He replaces Jeff Brandon, who retired at the end of 2022. Stauch also has experience in the weights and measures office.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Commissioners vote to support vote centers in Delaware County
