The Starke County Election Board is trying to figure out the best ways to make sure residents know their updated voting location for the June 2 primary.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, any eligible voter has the option to vote by mail, but for those who still want to cast their ballot on Election Day, Starke County has consolidated voting into seven locations: the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox, the North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Station, the James R. Hardesty Fire Station and Community Center in Hamlet, the California Township Fire Department, the Washington Township Community Building, the Koontz Lake Property Owners Association Building, and the San Pierre Fire Department.
Those who’ve voted at other locations in the past will have to find the temporary polling place for their specific precinct. A list can be found below.
During Wednesday’s election board meeting, Clerk Bernadette Manuel said board members are working to notify the public. “We’re asking both media outlets, all media outlets to join us in this mission, so every voter knows where to vote,” she said. “We will be posting notes on precinct polling places that are not going to be utilized. They will have a note on where to go to vote.” Manuel is also encouraging candidates to help get the word out.
To further help voters who may not know which precinct they live in, Starke County Republican Party Chair Dave Kesvormas suggested adding a color-coded map to the promotional materials. “I think it’s easier for people to say, ‘Well, I live here, so if I’m in the pink, I go here,’ instead of putting in the paper what’s closed, what’s open,” he said. “I just think it’s just a matter of making it clear enough so people understand it, and I think that would be the easiest way to do it.”
The election board had previously discussed the idea of mailing postcards to voters, but members ultimately felt it wouldn’t be cost effective. Democratic Party Chair Jeff Houston voiced some concern with that decision Wednesday, noting that the Indiana Election Commission’s order calls for counties to issue the best possible notice to voters.
Starke County residents can also vote early in-person at the Starke County Courthouse on Tuesday, May 26 through Saturday, May 30 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Monday, June 1 from 8:00 a.m. to noon. In its only action item Wednesday, the election board agreed to have absentee voting workers work four hours a day to handle election business during the week prior to early voting.
Starke County Precinct Polling Places for June 2, 2020 Primary
- California Township Fire Department: California 1, California 2, North Bend
- Washington Township Community Building: Washington 1, Washington 2
- Koontz Lake Property Owners Association Building: Oregon 2, Oregon 3
- James R Hardesty Community Center in Hamlet: Davis, Oregon 1, Center 6
- Nancy Dembowski Community Center in Knox: Center 1, Center 2, Center 3, Center 4 Center 5, Jackson
- North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Station: Wayne 1, Wayne 2, Wayne 3, Wayne 4
- San Pierre Fire Department: Railroad
