GOP Morgan County Clerk candidates discuss election security
Election security has been a big topic of discussion in recent years, and both candidates for the Republican nomination for Morgan County Clerk believe it is one of the most important aspects for the job they're hoping win.
Current Morgan County Clerk Stephanie Elliott cannot run again due to term limits, and has decided to run for Morgan County Auditor.
In the state of Indiana, the county clerk position fulfills a number of roles.
From running and certifying elections, processing child support and court fees as well as filling court cases in the county.
With Elliott leaving the position, Ann Miller and Tammy Parker decided to throw their hats into the race to replace her.
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For both Miller and Parker, election security is an important aspect of the job.
The two candidates stated they believe Morgan County's past elections have been secure, and will work to maintain the integrity of local elections.
Miller said she would also learn from other counties and how they run their respective elections.
"I will look to other counties to see how they handle their security with their election process," Miller said. "And, if we are not doing what other counties are doing, make sure that we are following suit."
Parker noted there is technology that would keep a paper backup when an individual casts their ballot.
"Going forward, that may be something that we could look at to make the citizens feel more comfortable is having a paper ballot within the machine," Parker said. "Because there isn't one now.
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Both Miller and Parker said operating local elections is the most important part of the job of the county clerk.
"Making sure that elections are secure is the most important thing," Miller said. "Also, the transparency as far everything going on. Not that the other aspects of the office are not important, but the election part is extremely important."
"Of course, obviously, election security is important. I feel like that that is important — and privacy, being able to know that your voting and that it is private," Parker said, adding that privacy on the court side of the role is also important because of the nature of many of the documents.
Voting centers
In recent years, Morgan County has moved away from precinct voting to county-wide vote centers.
This reduced the number of voting sites, but county residents can cast ballots at any of the centers.
Both candidates believe the switch to vote centers was a good idea for Morgan County.
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"I miss the neighborhood feel of having the elections done within our precincts," Miller said. "But, the costs of it was unbelievable. From a standpoint of fiscal responsibility, voting centers are the best way to go."
"A lot of people work out of the county," Parker said. "It makes it easy for them to say 'OK, I'm driving to Bloomington so I can hit the administration building either though I live on the north side of Morgan County."
Why they're running
The two candidates have spent time working in local government.
Miller has served as a member of the Washington Township Board and is a current member of the Martinsville City Council.
Parker previously spent time on the Morgan County Election Board and is currently serving on the Washington Township Board.
"I decided to run because I felt that, as county clerk, that I would be someone who would be impartial and I would be someone that would take the responsibilities very seriously," Miller said.
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"(I) just decided for me to transition over to being the clerk, thought it was a good time," Parker noted. "I have the experience and I feel like it was a good time to transition."
Both Miller and Parker believe they are the best candidate for, not only the GOP nomination, but the clerk's position.
"As a public servant, with my responsibilities that I have had within the city council, I am a voice for transparency, accountability and security," Miller said. "I feel like that I try to do what is fiscally responsible with the expenditure of the taxes."
"I'm a paralegal here at Coffin, Coffin & Blackman, and I have the experience as far as the court system," Parker said. "The clerk has several hats, and I have a working relationship with the judges and the staff — so I know who the courts work."
Morgan County Election information
The deadline to register to vote for the upcoming primary election is Monday, April 4.
Early voting in Morgan County will begin on Tuesday, April 5, at the Morgan County Administration Building, 180 S. Main St., Martinsville.
This site will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Early voting will also take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays starting April 18 at the Mooresville First Christian Church, 525 N. Indiana St., Mooresville.
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Both of these voting sites will close at noon on Monday, May 2.
The county will also operate early voting centers from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, April 23 and 30 at the county administration building, Mooresville First Christian Church and Monrovia Christian Church, 710 Gordon Rd., Monrovia.
Contact Reporter-Times editor Lance Gideon at lgideon@reporter-times.com or 765-342-1543. Follow him on Twitter: @LanceOGideon.
This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Morgan County Clerk candidates Ann Miller, Tammy Parker talk elections
