The May 7 primary election is around the corner and Starke County Clerk Bernadette Manuel and Pulaski County Clerk JoLynn Behny want to remind residents that security of elections is the number one priority.
They say election equipment is stored in a locked room that is under surveillance at all times. The voting machines are sealed with a numbered seal and only opened for programming, the public test, and for the election. They are resealed and restored in locked rooms when not used for those purposes.
Manuel stressed that the internet is not connected to the voting machines, but e-poll books do have access to the internet.
Manuel stated, “The e-poll books are connected to the internet, but the e-poll books and the voting equipment are two complete separate pieces of equipment and they do not even talk to one another.”
Further, the voting machines are not equipped to connect to the internet.
Behny and Manuel said information is secure as the e-poll books are solely connected to the statewide voter registration system.
“Whatever you have in your voter registration is what is available to the poll clerks that day to make sure your signature matches, your name matches, your address is correct, because your ballot is generated specifically for where you live,” said Behny. “If you’re in the town of Winamac, you will be able to vote for Winamac Town Council. If you don’t live within the town of Winamac you’ll just have a Monroe 1, 2, 3, or 4 ballot wherever your specific address is where you live.”
Manuel added, “The only software that is allowed on the e-poll book is the e-Pulse which is directly connected to SVRS which is the Statewide Voter Registration System.”
There is communication with all of the e-poll books as it records when a voter signs in to vote. That voter will not be able to cast another ballot as it is recorded in the system.
If there is an issue at the polls on election day, or if there is a discrepancy with a mail-in absentee ballot, a provisional ballot is issued and the circumstances need to be remedied within 10 days. All circumstances will be reviewed before the ballot will be counted or rejected.
There are several ways a person can vote in the election. Those varieties will be discussed in Thursday’s news.
Any questions about election security or about the election in general may be directed to the Starke County Clerk’s Office at 574-772-9160 or the Pulaski County Clerk’s Office at 574-946-3313.
