The Starke County Election Board members held the third and final Vote Center information session Thursday night at the North Judson-Wayne Township Public Library.
The sessions were to inform Starke County voters on the change from precinct voting to Vote Centers, if approved, beginning in the 2020 May Primary Election. Election Board President Marcia Bedrock explained that the 21 precinct voting places would be condensed to 7 Vote Center sites where anyone can vote at any designated site. The board members haven’t approved those sites as of yet, but preliminary discussions have one site each in Koontz Lake, Knox, Hamlet, Washington Township, Bass Lake, San Pierre and North Judson. Existing polling places would be used in each location.
Convenience was cited as a positive move as well as a cost savings to the county. About $35,000 would be realized in an election year with a reduction of poll workers, meals, and other associated costs.
Early voting would continue to be offered at the Starke County Courthouse prior to voting at a Vote Center on Election Day, plus satellite locations on the Saturdays prior to Election Day.
Another positive point made was that e-poll books would be used to sign in a voter at a Vote Center which will save time for the voter at the polls.
A survey distributed to session attendees on Wednesday night in Knox and Thursday night in North Judson found that residents are generally in favor of the move to Vote Centers.
The Election Board members now plan to review a rough draft of a Vote Center plan at their next meeting on Oct. 23. The plan, if unanimously approved by the Election Board, will be presented to the public during the joint Starke County Commissioners and Council meeting on Nov. 18. The Vote Center sites will have to be approved by the Election Board and the county commissioners.
If anyone needs more information, call Starke County Election Deputy Clerk Colleen Hodge at 574-772-9160.
