The Starke County Election Board members are expected to vote on the proposed Vote Center Plan in a meeting this morning at the Starke County Courthouse.
The Vote Center Plan would move the county from the current status of precinct polling sites to Vote Center sites. The move to a Vote Center county would allow any eligible voter the chance to vote at any of the seven Vote Centers proposed in the draft plan. They would be located at 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.
The Koontz Lake Association Building and the North Judson-Wayne Township Public Library are two proposed sites for early voting. They would be open Monday through Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clerk Bernadette Welter-Manuel noted that the only thing that needs to be decided is which site will be open during which of the two weeks prior to Election Day.
Prior to the vote, the Election Board members will review comment cards submitted regarding the draft plan, open a public hearing in order to take final public comments on the draft plan, and approve any needed changes in the plan. The vote has to be unanimous or else it fails to move forward.
The Starke County Election Board will meet today at 9:30 a.m. in the second floor meeting room in the Starke County Courthouse at 53 E. Washington Street in Knox.
