- Okay, then I will call the, what is today? April 9th special meeting of the Monroe County Election Board
- to order. We've all seen the minutes that came to us from March 20th. Is there any discussion on those
- at all? No, sir. If not, I will move they be approved. Move, so moved. Oh, I'm sorry, you moved, second.
- Okay, any discussion? Those in favor, aye. Aye. Okay, opposed?
- All right now, Clark, update us on the signage at North Showers. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't want
- to belabor this, but because it was an issue, I just wanted to give a timeline of what happened on Tuesday.
- On Tuesday, the election supervisor received a notification from Mr. Adam with Public Works for the
- city of Bloomington.
- He asked her to call him regarding the signs, the candidate signs as far as where they should go.
- At the time, it also included the directional signs. He mentioned that some of the staff had brought
- it up that the signs were on city property and wanted to work with us to get a game plan. This was a
- surprise to everyone and but I want to
- Mr. Adam for his willingness to meet with us pretty quickly. We got a phone call that he wanted to meet
- with us and so the chief deputy, the election supervisor and myself went over to the city and met with
- Mr. Adam. We also, I also reached out to one of the commissioners. I also reached out to a city council
- member asking for help. We called
- the Indiana Election Division and spoke with Matt Cochivar. We also worked with a county attorney and
- Mr. Adam spoke with a city attorney. As we left the meeting, my understanding was that there was going
- to be a resolution proposed, which ultimately passed at
- the meeting on Tuesday evening. And so I believe it was described in the online paper as a kerfuffle.
- I am here to say that the kerfuffle lasted less than 24 hours. I am not aware of any significant harm
- that was done with respect to the candidate signs, but because the resolution was passed, we are able
- to keep those directional signs outside of the showers building, which
- actually helps the city as well as the county because it gives the voters the direction where they need
- to report to vote early. And so for that, I want to thank Mr. Adam Watson. I believe that's how you
- pronounce his name. He was incredibly instrumental in meeting with us so expeditiously. The city and
- county attorneys who worked with us and encouraged us to keep calm because there was expected to be
- a resolution and everyone worked together
- to ensure that the issue was resolved quickly. Thank you. Thank you. To the online media, kerfuffle
- is an awesome word. We've used it for a few. I've been in sporting events. Was it a word before it became
- a word? Because I never. Absolutely. Before it became a word, it was a real word. Absolutely. I have
- been involved in watching kerfuffles at sporting events for years. OK. And as long as I wasn't the one
- trying to unkerfuffle it,
- They're kind of enjoyable sometimes. I'll just trust you. All right. I made up the word uncurfuffle,
- by the way, election central update. Bless you. I want to add one thing to the signage update as well.
- I received an email from Miss Givens about the parking for voters in the lot. We have she had suggested
- some signage saying that there was some free parking for voters.
- We already have two very large signs that say voter parking only for that area and then also Mr. Kreider
- went and had some signs made for within of the law as well that all say voter parking only on those
- and have arrows pointing to where all of that parking is I don't know any ideas on additional signage
- just because of how much signage there is currently and with
- Trying to figure out the directional signage versus anything else for that resolution that was passed
- with the city And then I'll jump into the election central update So first off we have the total number
- of voter registered registered voters. We are currently sitting at 90,000 180 registered voters in Monroe County
- And then for the early voting turnout, we are sitting at four hundred and thirty check ins as of right
- now. I have a live update on that through our vendor.
- And then absentee by mail I actually wanted to also include by email in this as well. So for mail we
- are sitting at 603 ballots that have gone out with 86 of those being returned. We did have more that
- came in right before I left for this meeting. And then for email we have sent out 57 and have received
- eight of those back.
- And then a parking update. This is more so for the poll worker parking. While we were dealing with the
- sign situation with the city and going back and forth, we also found out there was some miscommunication
- on the city side between a couple of the members who are helping us with getting parking situated for
- the poll workers.
- We do have the trades district garage at this time for them to park in. So it is much closer than the
- Morton garage. And then we have those full 10 street parking spots as well. I know that we've had a
- couple of our more ADA needing poll workers who are using those street spots. And then they're also
- there for any overflow in the parking lot once we get closer towards the end of early voting.
- Thank you. Any comments? I just wanted to also point out the web page that the GIS has posted about
- early voting. I was amazed to see how much higher the early voting is this year than it has been over
- the last several sites. Yeah, so we did hit a history breaking day on the very first day of
- early voting, we had 178 check-ins. That is the most in any midterm election to date that we have data
- on. And then in addition to that, the dashboard is linked to the election board page on our page.
- and you called me that night to indicate that we had broken a record. As I told you, I am on a thread
- with a number of regional clerks, and so their numbers were nowhere near our numbers. And so I think
- it's fairly safe to say that except for Marion County, who probably has the most early voting numbers
- in the state, I thought we did pretty well. And it gives me a chance to thank you and thank Ashley and
- everybody who's working
- down at Election Central. I have not received one complaint. I am not aware of any one being disenfranchised
- for any reason. And and so it is going incredibly smoothly. The people who have left the Justice building
- to go down and vote have come back and reported that it is a smooth process from beginning to end, and
- that is thanks to your hard work. Yeah. And Mr Crider's handy work at the new facility. People wanted
- to check that out.
- All right, thank you. And on that, Mr. Crider, relocation update. Do you have anything for us that you
- need to say? Yeah, so early, I think it was
- Do you remember what day we moved? It was Wednesday last week. It's all running together for me at this
- point. Yeah, we went ahead and moved them downstairs into the new space and Unfortunately, we had to
- use their their used furniture to make that happen, but we were able to make that happen We're moving
- training into suite 203 a little more level floors in that area for them to use and
- They're set up downstairs and off and running. The new furniture is incorrect. Did the new furniture
- show up? Yeah, actually the new voters early voting furniture arrived today. It's all set up. It's being
- signed off on as we speak. So I'd heard that the new furniture arrived today and they were assembling
- it and I understood like that it might be impeding the access to the restrooms.
- It was directly out in front of the restrooms We were able to go over and see that we were able to easily
- get in and out of the restrooms Once you got past some of their boxes It's okay small price.
- Yeah All right. Thank you Additional workers we need do we need to vote on some additional workers do
- we have? I
- don't have it printed, but I emailed them to the board. And in the packet of documents that I left,
- there's a resolution entitled resolution appointing absentee board members. Well, I have there are four
- resolutions there. I think it might be the third. OK, you had five sheets of paper. The one I was OK.
- So actually, if you actually
- Molly, I'm sorry. Molly, if you would give us like any any short. I don't say that mean any summary
- of what with the first one is same inspector of multiple precincts. So this resolution allows one inspector
- to oversee multiple precincts attached to this resolution will be the approved poll list, which list
- out the poll locations that have multiple precincts.
- And then it indicates that an individual filling the role of a judge may assist or perform the duties
- of an inspector at the shared locations. This is the exact same resolution that has been passed in previous
- years. I just changed the dates. You would have to approve that person, correct? Because you pick who
- works where. Am I correct on that?
- My point being, if you did that, it would be someone that we would trust could handle multiple jobs
- at that. So the recruiters are the ones who do the recruiting process of that. They will put them where
- they need to be. I just give a number of how many workers we need at each location. Oh, I'm sorry. You're
- fine. I got it. I understand. I do have a question, though, too, about that. Item three, where it says
- individual, hopefully the role of judge may assist.
- So we have to worry about the party affiliation of the judge. So in the past for that, if something
- were to happen and the inspector had to leave or some type of emergency happened, then generally it
- would be the Democratic judge steps into that role. But it's always the Republican judge who is assisting
- the Democratic inspector. Do we need to specify that?
- I don't believe so. We have never had a problem. We've passed this resolution before. Okay, so then
- I will move that we approve this resolution. Is there a number on it somewhere that I should?
- There is not. I could start numbering the election board resolutions. I just want to make sure that
- what we do passes muster.
- It's just the title of the resolution allowing same inspector at multiple precincts. If you move,
- I'll second. I'll move that we approve it. Second. Discussion? In favor, aye. Aye. Opposed? The second
- one, same inspector at multiple precincts, correct?
- That's why we had two copies of it. My bad. Sorry, my bad. I thought, wait a minute. We just did that.
- A meeting share us from the primary election. This is a resolution that has been passed in previous
- elections as well. Pursuant to Indiana code, the election board may unanimously adapt a resolution that
- specifies that certain precinct election officers are not needed.
- At and then they must identify which precincts that is excluded. And so this would be Omitting the sheriff's
- from all precincts in Monroe County and I've again attached the poll list to the resolution So it's
- clear that it would be all of them And then it Indicates the statute requires that if you omit a position
- you have to say
- Identify another election worker who would fulfill that role if needed So it says the precinct election
- officers of inspector judge and or clerk will perform the duties of the omitted sheriff And this is
- one that passed and in the past just like it correct. I will move we adopt it second discussion Those
- in favor. I I opposed And I won't read the same one again now Molly I apologize
- I think that was my fault. That was not because I signed one and passed it and didn't move mine out
- of the way. That was me. Resolution appointing absentee board members. So this would be the resolution
- that appoints the most recently provided list of absentee board members by both Democratic Party Chair
- and Republican Party Chair.
- the email correspondence from those party chairs would be attached to the resolution. It is slightly
- different than absentee board member appointment resolutions that you've passed within this year because
- technically the deadline for appoint for the chairmans to provide nominations have passed. But that's
- OK because if there's still the need then it becomes the county election board sole responsibility to
- fill those vacancies and you can elect to consult the party chairs. So it's just worded a little bit
- differently.
- Okay. I'll move we adopt. Second. Discussion. Those in favor, aye. Aye. Opposed. All right. Signed and
- moved toward you. And the final one is
- Delegating unofficial tabulating results. So this was passed the last election, and I think that is
- the first election that I remember this resolution coming about. Per the statute, the election board
- shall begin at 8 p.m. prevailing local time and at least once every 120 hours into midnight entering
- unofficial results for offices elected by the voters. So what this resolution does is delegate that
- task to the clerk's office, because I think they have
- in the past handled election night results. So it delegates the task to the clerk's office. The language
- in number two was what it was last year, which was
- The board delegates this duty to the clerk, and it says that the results shall be reported to the media
- and party chairs by email similar to the manner results have been reported in the past. If possible,
- the results should be provided in a CSV format, and then results should be reported in cooperation with
- the Monroe County GIS Division, which I think is already happening. Seems straightforward to me. I think
- it's 120 minutes, not 120 hours.
- You wrote the right thing and then you said 120 hours. That would be a long night. It would be really
- long. I've had some 120 hour nights but I don't think that would be one of them. Is there a motion?
- Motion. I second. Just to change things up. Any discussion? Those in favor, aye. Aye. Opposed?
- That carries. Okay. We're down and ready for public comment.
- Since we drugged Dave Ascot's in, there was a kerfuffle that I just want to bring up that he can report
- if he wants. Arlington Road from the roundabout toward Bloomington North has been worked on recently.
- It's been torn up. Multiple school buses per day go by that. And the road is so bad that they're forced
- into the oncoming lane. There are roads probably in Iran that are smoother than that right now.
- It is it is bad and I would like to call upon the City city highway to tell them to either fix it or
- fix it So because I don't like school buses driving on a road where literally you're bouncing up and
- down like you're in bad places, so that's just You know dragging up here it's kerfuffle esque driving
- on that Dave so
- Where is the roundabout? The roundabout by Tri-North. It goes up the hill and buses from Tri-North and
- North go both directions in the morning and afternoon. And there's a bunch of them. And I drove home
- from the thing at IU last night on Arlington and everybody was across the double yellow line driving
- the wrong way because the chuck holes in town are smooth compared to that.
- And they finished it about a week and a half ago. It needs to be made drivable. Try North and North
- are both polling locations. So, oh yeah, that's why I brought that up in this meeting. Yeah. Is it?
- Maybe. Sorry, maybe I don't understand. Is it possible to drive the wrong way on a roundabout?
- No, it's not the roundabout Arlington Road goes up the hill to the right toward Bloomington North. They're
- building that large apartment complex there. And I believe they were putting in the sewer pipes. We
- just like it fine. But they really they made a mess out of that. And when they poured concrete, they've
- left big drop offs. You go over both ways. And it's the whole the whole northwest bound lane is torn
- up badly. And it just it's time to get that
- prepared because of school buses driving on it. Okay, that's just we definitely want and we're going
- to make this still in under a half an hour so you can get your you stop that you stop that. Well, obviously
- it's important with respect to our school children who are precious cargo. And then, of course, as we
- approach Election Day and our poll workers will be out there is especially having to report there at
- five o'clock in the morning.
- anything that we could do to get the word out that that needs attention as expeditiously as possible.
- But in the event that it cannot, I think the caveat should be the election board does not oversee traffic
- and issues that are with respect to the infrastructure. It also is another reason for people to do early
- voting or absentee. Do we have a hand? Yes, we do have a hand. Yes.
- Dr. John Baten. Yeah, go ahead. Everybody, can you guys hear me? Yes. Okay, election board.
- I'm John Baten. I'm the GIS coordinator for Monroe County. I just thought I would show the early voting
- dashboard that we've developed in partnership with voter edge. So I'll share my screen. It looks like
- I have access to do that. If you guys are interested in this, it's a fairly dynamic dashboard.
- And it's fairly cool, we're doing it here in Monroe County. So if you go to the Monroe County homepage,
- you can click on the GIS division or I believe in voter registration as well. You can scroll down here
- and click on our website. And then within our website, you will see a tab here to the early voting dashboard.
- Again, I mentioned this is a partnership with voter registration and we're conducting this in a fairly
- great way. Kylie sends me emails at night.
- I'm at home, I go in and I plug new data in. And so this has been updated as of last night. But as was
- mentioned earlier today, we are doing really good in terms of voter turnout versus prior years. So what
- you can see here are the total early votes as of last evening for 2026, the days until the election.
- And this little clock down is gonna keep on counting down as we approach May 5th. And then what you
- get here is a little bit of a bar chart showing the number of votes that have occurred
- sequentially or over days, and so we're at two days in the election cycle. In 2026, we've had 339 votes.
- You can see in 2022, the last early voting for a midterm, we had 118, 241, et cetera. You can also look
- at daily voting totals for those past midterm early voting primary elections.
- in the past as well on this dashboard. This has been configured to work on mobile devices as well. It's
- a little bit more simplified on a mobile device, just a couple indicators and gauges, but we'll be doing
- this up until the election on May 5th. And then on May 5th, we'll be working again in partnership with
- voter registration to do live election reporting at the county and precinct level scale. So I just wanted
- to showcase this so folks know where it's at and know that we're updating it and things like that.
- I'll also note we do have a hyperlink here to our voter central application as well. This has been developed
- by some of the great GIS technicians we've had within the GIS division, both Irina Valentin Boland and
- then Nick Angelos. But within this voter information, you can type in your address. So I'll just type
- in mine really quickly in Perry Township. And it will tell you, click on your address, you can zoom
- in, and it's going to give you an idea of
- all of the current elected officials you have, where your polling location is, and things like that.
- So just another great resource we have within Monroe County. That's all I have. Can you show us your
- number again that had the total number of voters? Sure. Because that was about 400 less than the number
- we were just given a little bit ago.
- Yeah, you carry this data. And we were given $90,100. Yeah, $90,180. So that is including the ones that
- are still in pending. What he has is the current active. So the ones that are still in pending could
- be seven days out. Awesome. I just want to do there was a difference and that explains it. All right.
- Anything else? I'm sorry.
- I was just gonna say, yeah, we will be updating this nightly just to make sure that all those numbers
- kind of jive and are correlated with what we have at voter edge, so. Please don't misunderstand. There
- was no criticism anywhere. I just. Oh, totally. Some numbers people get fussy about numbers when they
- don't line up. Anything from any other member? No, sir. Okay, we will meet again in two weeks. Yes,
- sir. At the same time. Do we need to add workers
- names for early voting? That was part of the one we did? Yes. I do want to add though that so early
- voting has been going great. We haven't had any issues. I will state that we have one provisional so
- far during early voting. This person was pending so that results back into the total number of registered
- voters and the only reason that
- they continued with a provisional was because they don't know if they'll be back in time to vote. So
- they wanted to go ahead and go. And so they did get a provisional. So there's currently one for Monroe
- County. OK, I was I went down Monday and came in the normal door and just went ahead and did mine just
- to see what it was like. Have you been down yet? OK, the storage cubbies for the backpacks and things
- was a stroke of genius how that worked.
- I mean, when I was there, somebody brought in a backpack, they took it up and stuck it in there. When
- they left, it was great. So I was very impressed with how the whole thing went down. And again, just
- for the record, as we prepare to close, Mr. Chair, there have been no incidents of voter suppression,
- disenfranchisement. Everything has gone smoothly.
- And so I just want to make that clear. We are encouraging early voting. Please get out. We are excited.
- We got great people waiting to help you. And as I say, everybody who has gone that has come back and
- report to me said very smooth process. So I think I was done in less than 10 minutes. Thank you.
- Thank you. Motion to adjourn. Motion. Second.
- Those in favor, aye. We are adjourned.