The General Election in Starke County was recently certified.
Clerk Bernadette Manuel said there were 5,255 people who voted on Election Day at the seven Vote Centers available for Starke County residents to cast a ballot, there were 1,051 mail-in absentee ballots and 4,147 walk-in early voters. Slightly over 60 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in the November General Election in Starke County.
There were several complaints concerning poll workers on Election Day regarding straight party ticket voting. Monica Miller told the Starke County Election Board members Wednesday morning that she received information from some voters who said they were not given proper instructions on how to cast a ballot to choose candidates. Instead, she said voters complained that they were only told about casting a straight party ticket. She also heard from others who questioned why some mail-in ballots were rejected when they were brought to the polls. The board members explained to Miller how those matters were handled.
She said some complaints were already filed with the state.
Manuel stated that they will look into the complaints and work on training poll workers in a different manner for the Primary and General Elections in 2022.
Republican Party Chairman Dave Kesvormas asked the board to look into making voting a little easier for voters with physical challenges. There were also some issues into the lines and chutes at the polling sites which may lead to some changes in the future.
It was noted that there were long lines at a few of the polling places, but with the new ePoll books the lines moved swiftly.
