Election Board addresses past, future voting policy

The Monroe County Election Board met Thursday to discuss the 2010 midterm election, new voting machines and accessibility issues for the upcoming municipal primary election. The board manages electoral policy and carries out elections for the county.

The members of the board are Democrat Jan Ellis, chairwoman, Republican Judith Smith-Ille and Democrat Linda Robbins, Monroe County clerk and board secretary. Democrat Lee Jones was present in Ellis’ place Thursday.


REVIEW OF NOVEMBER 2010 ELECTION

Discussion: Smith-Ille expressed concerns of some residents that the lines were too long in some precincts and were not sufficiently accessible for voters with disabilities. She also said there was a problem with one candidate violating election day campaigning laws.

In her words:  “The Election Board had to make a trip to one of the University precincts because of a candidate who didn’t like the 50-foot rule,” Smith-Ille said.

VOTE CENTERS IN THE 2011 ELECTION

Discussion: The county is proposing a switch from a precinct-based voting system to vote centers. This would allow citizens to vote at any voting location, regardless of the city district in which they reside. Currently, residents must vote at a prescribed location in the precinct where they live.
Board members said the voting population of the city has increased by 30 percent since 2007, and vote centers could better accommodate the increase in voters and reduce costs.
The potential vote center locations currently being considered are the IU Auditorium, the Indiana Memorial Union, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Showers Plaza, Cavalry Baptist Church, Faith Lutheran Church and St. Paul United Methodist Church.
Early voting will be available at the Curry Building, 214 W. Seventh St. in the weeks preceding the May 3 election.

In her words: “You can vote at any center during election day,” Robbins said.

HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT GRANT

Discussion: HAVA sets accessibility requirements that must be met at voting locations.
The county has reinstated a committee to address accessible voting issues and to spend money from a state grant.
The committee will look into the vote center locations to ensure they meet the needs of disabled voters and will purchase portable ramps and wheelchairs that can be set up to solve problems.
Money remaining after purchases for 2011 elections can be spent by the county for HAVA-related purposes in the future.
The ramps and wheelchairs the county will purchase can be used to improve accessibility at other county events in the future.

In his words: “We’re long past due on getting our accessibility up to where it needs to be,” said Randy Paul, who led the grant project.

VOTING MACHINES

Discussion: The county plans to purchase and use DS2000 Ballot Scanner and Paper Ballot voting systems in the 2011 elections.
The machines scan a paper ballot, which is similar to a Scantron test. This would allow ballots to be printed at voting locations, removing the limitation of strict precinct voting sites.
The machines catch errors in under- and over-voting and allow voters to fix those problems.

In her words: “It’s an easy audit for us, and you know your vote has been counted. It’s a good machine,” Robbins said.