We good? Yes. All right. And I will call the March 31st election board meeting to order. The first thing
I will do is we have now are we doing all the minutes? We had something that said we were doing just
the early ones because the second one hadn't been transcribed yet. Correct. So we are still finalizing
the second set from March 20th and then we will approve those and the ones from today's meeting at the
next meeting. Work for you guys. Yes, sir.
So I will move that we approve the minutes for the first meeting of March. Second. Second. Any discussion?
Those in favor, aye. Aye. Both same. All right. All right, Ms. Clerk, how about the lab test update?
Mr. Chair, if I may read correspondence into the minutes. Sure, absolutely.
On March 24th, Monroe County conducted a test of six scan devices and a high-speed scanner using a test
deck of 3,988 ballots in preparation for the May 5th, 2026 primary election. Equipment used is from
Highland Village Elementary, Soles Harbor Church, Fairview Elementary, Grandview Elementary, Emmanuel
Baptist Church, and Eastview Church of the Nazarene, polling locations per state random
selection method. All results were as expected from all scanners. Test results are certified, correct,
and accurate, respectfully submitted. Robert A. White, who is the owner of BNL IT services. Both of
you were present at the testing. I felt it was a good day and I want to thank, we had
did I understand you to say, Kylie, we had more people show up than we ever have at the? Yeah, so from
the 2024 test for the general election, we had a total of six people who attended that. And this year
for the 2026 primary, we had 29 who checked in. And those people included representation from both parties,
candidates, a gentleman who described himself as a data analyst, prospective
And so I'm very grateful to him and his team. Everything was looking good at Election Central, and it's,
you know, fingers crossed, going to get better with all of the renovations and updates and things like
that. And so I'm very grateful to him and his team.
Just thank you to everybody. We had a good day. Thank you. May I note for the record also that the League
of Women Voters had a representation there and we've received a report from them on what was observed.
So I wanna thank Ralph Shaw for that. Yes, thank you. The facility, I'm gonna jump ahead of you some.
Your facility is just gonna be awesome to work in.
That's just gonna be so much better than the outer parts building was, you know. Hey, election supervisor,
I've made postcards and dates. So postcards first, we had our vendor come in who takes care of our election
mail. They have set up and scheduled with us to have postcards going out and those will be going out.
I believe at the end of this week, and they will start seeing people's mailboxes at the beginning of
next week, which will be perfect timing since it has information about early voting, and that will give
them the information for that, as well as having information about how to request an absentee ballot
by mail and how to find their location for election day. It will have a QR code on there that takes
them to the map that they can type in their address, and it will tell them which location they are to
go to on election day.
We also will have a second wave of postcards going out Those ones will be a bright yellow postcard and
those will be sent to every registered voter in the county and it will tell them where their polling
location is since we've had so many updates to the polling locations and with the new location of early
voting and then for the
important upcoming dates. The last day to register to vote is going to be April 6th. You have until 1259 p.m.
to do that online. Come to our office to drop them off in person until 4 p.m. And then on April 7th,
sorry, will be the first day of early voting. I think you said 1259. Did you mean 1159? 1259 p.m. That's
1259 p.m. is like 10 minutes ago.
1259 P, oh, sorry, A.M., yes, thank you. It's been a long day with training this morning. She's been
rushed this morning. But I think it is 1159. So basically we're talking noon. It says 1259 in our books,
1259 A.M. Okay. But for- In your books, okay, but it would be- For online. For online. Okay, all right.
And they have to have either Indiana driver's license or Indiana ID to apply online. Correct. They can't
do it if they have, say,
a passport that they're relying on or their last four digits of their social security. Correct. And
for what it's worth, we're having again, as we do on our flight stuff, because of getting on an airplane,
our guys have to have star IDs. And I'm pleased to say none of them are having any issues getting star
IDs. We tell a guy on an interview, you need one. And a week later, he sends me a picture of it. Yeah.
And that's another good
point of information as well. If you are updating your ID and you are afraid that that paper ID isn't
going to work at the polls, it will. As long as we have a barcode on there, it is counted as an ID.
That way we can scan it in. And then also you can still use your passport or military ID to come to
the polls to vote as well. All right. Mr. Kreider, we'll let you. Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Yes, ma'am.
I hope that you're already getting back some filled in ballots from people that you've sent the ballots
out to. Are you going to pull those out of the batches of postcards that you're sending out? I mean,
if they've already voted, do they need that information? So we're sending it as updated information
due to us doing a lot of cleanup in 2025. We did a ton of cleanup in SVRS.
Myself and Jessica have worked with GIS very close to make sure that all the address points are up to
date and that everything is within the correct precincts. And so a lot of people have been updated and
they might have thought that they were in one precinct and their precinct might have changed and they
didn't notice that when they received their ballot. So we're still going to send out these
voter acknowledgement cards so that they have an updated version of that. I'm sure there's some overlap
time or just absolutely overlap time.
Hopefully some of those ballots are coming back already. Yes, we started seeing some of them come back.
I want to say that we maybe have 10 that have came back so far. And then yesterday was actually our
largest day of sending out and we had 23 that went out. Thank you. Now, Mr. Crider. Good morning, Richard
Crider, Monroe County Building and Fleet here to provide an update on the
new space. Early voting area is operable. I'm pretty confident that if early voting started tomorrow,
we'd be just fine. I have us down, I think it's five business days away. So that's coming up quick.
We have a short punch list of items to complete that I think we're going to handle in house. So we are
now kind of looking ahead and
moving forward to moving staff down into the new space from Suite 203, and we're going to use Suite
203 for another training location. So that's what we're looking ahead to. Let's see. Yeah, that's where
I'm at. Call Kylie about every day. What do we need to take care of today, tomorrow?
So when do you guys move downstairs. So that's one thing that me and Richard are working on currently,
we are going to use the space that's upstairs for election day training. So all of the training that
will begin on April 13 will take place in that space.
we need to be moved downstairs to that new space by the end of this week or very early next week in
order to allow enough time for Bob White and his staffing to come in and get all of that equipment set
up, have tables set up, get the iPads for the e-poll books programmed for training and to get a projector
and screen in there for us to be able to do slideshows with them as well. Ms. Kylie,
I know you and I have talked about the furniture. Are there any other outstanding? No, so right now
we'll just use temporary furniture until the permanent furniture comes in. And I do believe early voting
furniture will be arriving shortly, if I'm correct. Yeah, it's actually scheduled to arrive in Indianapolis
on the 7th. So they're going to bring it down that week, set it up. So that's a plus.
Go ahead. What's the status of repaving the parking lot? May 11th. And are we good on parking for early
voting workers? I'm still working on that with the city. I was told that I would probably get a phone
call back yesterday. I did not receive a phone call after this meeting. I have already set in my calendar
to call them again to see if I can get an update.
We have 83 parking passes that we have used in the past from the city, and I'm hopeful that we can at
least get those activated for next week for our poll workers to be able to park in the parking garage
that's directly behind showers. It's the trades district parking garage and I think that that would
be a great location for that.
We also are requesting parking on the street to be reserved as well And so then we've done that in the
past for overflow of voter parking So that was one thing that we're looking at and then Richard Crider
has already sent out an email about the parking lot so that County employees can move their vehicles
from that lot and be used for election early voting parking only
So just to clarify the parking garage, you're not talking about the one north of 11th Street, you're
talking about one south back there. Yeah. So it's called the trades district parking garage. It honestly
butts up to the showers building. So it'll be. I do want to clarify one thing. My email was that the lot
is reserved for early voting, but I've also reserved a row for county fleet vehicles who have departments
inside the showers building. I just wanted to add that in. Looks good to me. I mean, it just. All right,
anything anything from the public on? Yep, the project update. We're good.
Thank you, sir, very much. You're welcome. Go to a punch list item. Thank you, Richard. Thank you.
All right. Now we need to approve the additional workers to seeming to be a bit of a challenge to get
people. But we'll see here. So now correct me if I'm wrong, because some of this came quick. The resolution
that we got from
Molly is what we're voting on because we've already got the names, correct? Correct. And then Kylie
provided me with the list of name, which I believe is also in the packet that was provided to you.
So those, the two lists will be attached to the resolution as exhibits. Thank you.
for this, I want to clarify so that it's also public that when we had a meeting last week on Tuesday
before the test of the equipment, Democratic chair had if there was a way for her to add additional
names to the list that did not make it to the first list. So we had discussed how we would do that and
moving forward with that. And then the Republican Party also had asked to do the same. So that's why
these are back for more approvals instead of it being
the original lists that were approved last week. Molly, is there code that would preclude us if we got
people that just for some reason didn't know and wanted to start working before it started that we could
get them trained? Could we add people? I'm sorry, I hate to throw questions with that some lead, but
I'm just as I look at this and I know that some of the issue we're running into with some with some people
I'd rather say yes than, gee, too bad for you. Right. And so that's another thing for Election Day as
well. In twenty twenty four, we were coming back almost weekly, updating the list of Election Day workers.
And then on election morning we had updated the list again. And so the election board, I think it was
about five or two in the morning, had approved a final list of Election Day workers.
One of the reasons I bring that up is I'm meeting with someone this afternoon that says he has a group
that would like to get involved with the elections in Monroe County. Well, if I can say to this person,
hey, we need help still early voting in Election Day if we can still add them. I'm sure we could find
a trainer. Hint, hint. Yes. OK. OK, I just I want to make sure that was that was OK before. Let me look
at the statute. OK.
We would probably have to meet again. Is that clear? My understanding of your question is can there
be a blanket as long as we have it on the party letterhead that it's understood that we are comfortable
with adding them to the list and I don't have an issue with that. If it's legal, I have no problem adding
people from either party.
You think to us we have trained. Because here to work this you know I'm good with that because the truth
of the matter is is we we likely are going to have to come together again several times prior to the
primary election day and we will have other more paramount issues to address at that time so. I'm happy
to reach out to Matt coach of our or Valerie
to see if we can do it that way as long as it is on party letterhead and let you know. Yeah, and I was
going to also suggest during this meeting as well that we should probably go ahead and see about scheduling
some meetings for the month of April, because as the list of Election Day workers come in, they will
also have to be approved by the Election Board, so they be
their work on Saturday the 28th and they're just now starting to get into really getting names and they'll
start filling up the list here shortly and it's just we're gonna start having more things that need
to be taken care of especially with those but then we also have some resolutions that do need to be
approved prior to the primary and those are items that Molly has brought up which
I have known a couple of them that we needed to take care of, but really knew that we needed to get
this in here because we have training today, tomorrow, and Thursday. I'm happy to propose April 9th
and April 23rd because we're having the meeting today that we would have had on this coming Thursday
as long as the room, of course, is open for use.
Are you proposing 130? Yes. I'm good with that. I do on the 9th, I have to get to Indianapolis by 430,
but I would like to think we wouldn't be here late enough that I couldn't be in Indianapolis by 430.
Is there a motion to add those dates? Yes, I am making a motion to add April 9th and April 23rd at 1.30 p.m.
Are we allowed? Second. I'm sorry, thank you. I can ask a question, I guess. Are we allowed to hold
meetings to a specific agenda and not have other things brought in from the public other than just comment
on what we're doing? All I'm saying is,
In the instance of time, are we allowed to say, this is the agenda, and at the end of the printed agenda,
we're finished? I mean, you can adopt the agenda at the beginning of the meeting, and then that's the
agenda for the meeting. OK. You guys follow where I'm going? I didn't. In the interest of time, you
have to get to work. They have to get to work. OK. We'll deal with that when it comes time for that.
How does that impact?
worker training 130 on those two dates? I don't know yet. Me and Ashley are planning to set and finalize
the schedule for Election Day training today and that way we can upload it to the spreadsheet for the
recruiter so they can start filling in training dates. We'll make it work. Would an earlier morning
meeting make what you need to do easier?
not necessarily because our trainings could be any time of the day we have some that are after working
hours some that are early in the morning it it's one of those where if ashley's not here it's fine um
and i can probably bring jessica if we don't it would fit we'd have to fit for all of us but if maybe
an earlier yeah yeah well here's here's the truth mr chair you know um there will be
plenty of things to address if we are sticking to an agenda and we're meeting solely for the purpose
of getting the agenda implemented you know if we're having four-hour meetings that's problematic the
ninth won't be any issue because training will begin on the 13th so we're fine there yes ma'am and the
room would not be available earlier in the day on a Thursday because the commissioners meetings that
will go 130
So then the motion and a second is to have meetings on 4-9 and 4-23 at 1-30. Am I correct with that?
Correct. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? No. Those in favour, aye. Aye. Opposed? Okay,
so we have now set meetings on 4-9 and 4-23 at 1-30. I used to say write those in your calendar, but
now everybody types those into their calendar, so.
I don't think you voted on the resolution for appointment. No, we're setting an appointment. We're setting
meeting first. Now I would entertain a motion to adopt the resolution that we were given about adding
the additional board members. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Does this include accepting additional
people if it's on the letterhead?
I would have to check the statute. There's nothing in the statute about allowing that, so I can look
at it and get you an email before the 9th. OK. And why don't you reach out to the state board and get
their opinion as well. I will. And then we'll see where we are. I just, if people want to work, I hate
to say no. You're absolutely right. End of story.
And having those backups are very crucial just because if somebody calls in the morning of or if they're
there and they have to leave due to an emergency, being able to have a list to go off of and say, hey,
you said you're available this day. Can you please come in? Those are things that we run into all the
time. And there's times that staff members from my office are covering those spots until somebody else
can come in. And right now, with the shortage rate, it's going to be very hard to do those.
All right. Did we vote on this yet? I'm sorry. We did not, did we? Okay, those in favor of adopting
the resolution, aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. All right. Any questions? Absolutely. On our agenda,
it actually lists proposed meetings on Monday, May the 4th, May the 5th, and May the 7th. Do we need
to vote on
Those meetings are having it on the agenda is sufficient. Those meetings are already publicly noticed.
They are included in the annual notice earlier this year. Thank you. And those meetings just
for clarification are going to be at election central. Yes.
And so I can clarify on those the May 4th is the election day set up all of the election board comes
in and helps with calling the inspectors at those locations to ensure that they are set up and good
to go. If they need something we make a list of items that need to go out first thing.
Tuesday morning so that they're out to the polls before the polls open. Generally, we don't have very
much. There might be one location that says, hey, we already used up the tape that we had. Can you please
bring out extra tape? Or we had one that said, hey, my roll of stickers is a little bit smaller than
what I think I'm going to need. Can you just go ahead and bring them out so we have them? And those
are all things that we just go ahead and take care of Monday night. That way, Tuesday morning, as soon
as our couriers get in, they can get out to those polls, get them the materials that they wanted.
And then the fifth is election day and then the 15th is the provisional ballot hearing. That's 10 days
after the election. That allows anybody who had a provisional ballot 10 days to cure their ballot before
that. We do that one at 1201 because the deadline to turn in their information is at noon. Okay, I do
like the time of the May 4th meeting much better than the time of the May 5th meeting. Yes, 430 p.m.
and then 5 a.m. Much better.
Welcome to my world. My dog's not even gonna be happy at 5 a.m. Yeah. All right, so we dealt with that.
I think we're down to any public comment. Is that normal for us? We'll take it. Seeing none, I will
entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved.
Those in favor, aye. Aye. Opposed? Thank you.