All right, the April 23rd, 2026 election board meeting is called to order. We will start with the clerk's
update on early voting and Senate Bill 10. Good afternoon. On the absentee ballot statistics, I wanted
to make the board aware that 1,129 ballots were mailed out.
have had 332 of those ballots returned, which means that we are still awaiting 797 ballots. With respect
to emailed ballots, we have emailed 64. We have received back 15. And so we are waiting for 49 emailed
ballots to be returned to us.
With respect to Senate Bill 10, I was at an election conference last week and I got a call from one
of the clerks because I live in Bloomington and she was the one who broke news to me about the injunction.
As far as I am aware in Monroe County, one person voted in that window using their student identification
and then just the other day I called
the Secretary of State's office to ask for some guidance on what we would do for any students who voted
using their ID in that window. And he said, well, we just got the stay, meaning we are not able to use
IDs at this time. But a very wise person at the election conference said, this can change back and forth
between now, literally between now and election day.
at, on this very day, at this very moment, we cannot accept student IDs to vote. And so we're just doing
the best we can in terms of training packets and poll worker training to make sure that they have the
most up-to-date information from whatever the judge's ruling is. And we will just move forward in that
manner until election day. I do have a statute
to decide about if the student's ballot is going to count. I have no reason to believe that it won't,
but I also have the Indiana code to support our being able to count it. We have that discussion. It
strikes me that it was legal at the time that ballot was cashed in our Itcher account. That's exactly
right. So since you said that, that's exactly how I felt. You can't punish somebody
for something that wasn't a crime when they did it. But specifically, the IED referred me to Indiana
Code 3-5-4, I'm sorry, let me do it again, 3-5-4.5-2, which is a person may not challenge the right
of an individual to vote at an election in the precinct solely based on the basis of that individual's
enrollment at an
in an educational institution or registration to vote at an address that is housing provided for the
student by the educational institution. At the time that the ballot was submitted, the law was, it was,
it was, I would, let somebody file another suit, oh please, about that, I would see no reason not to
count that. But we also, we don't record what kind of ID people provide as proof, and so there would
be, I think, written there,
that we would have to bear. That correct. I'm just saying one person used their student ID and I'm prepared
to count that person's ballot. That's all I'm saying. And this is akin to Indiana weather. Wait 10 minutes.
That's exactly what they said at the election conference last week. Okay. And we do need an early voting
turnout update.
voting turnout update we are currently at 2,095 as of 1 20 p.m. today at the end of day yesterday we
were at 1,980 I noticed that we were we got 200 yesterday so those number yesterday's number was 209
so we're picking up and people were
coming out and today that we can do a little plug right now today is gorgeous out there. The walk was
over here was amazing. And so we're open until six o'clock. Come out and take advantage of this beautiful
weather and vote early. And then this Saturday is the first Saturday of early voting. So
actually, Richard Crider called me on the way over here. We were talking about the parking lot. So that
parking lot is normally used for many farmers market goers. So me and Richard are both working together
to find a solution to make sure that that's not happening too much in that lot so that there's still
plenty of space for voters to park. And just for the record again, what are the hours Saturday? Are
they the same? Nine to four. Are the meters enforced on farmers market Saturdays?
I believe so. Yeah. Where I park on Farmers Market Day. Okay. Mr. Kreider is working on things. He's
not coming. Kylie, do you have an overview of the letter that was sent, please?
I have the letter that was sent from Richard Crider to the election board. It says, dear members of
the election board, thank you for including me on your agenda for a building update. I respectfully
decline to attend this meeting, but I am happy to provide a brief update on current items in progress.
Currently, we have not yet placed the order for voter registration furniture, but I anticipate completing
that soon.
I am also in the process of obtaining a quote to replace the remaining used chairs in the early voting
area, and he attached an image of that. And then the pedestal and activation switches for the door to
enter from the lobby space into voter registration. That has been looked at, and they are working on
getting that
So that's the important part. Okay. And then the microwave and refrigerator will be being delivered soon.
We can circle back, Mr. Chair, for the voting on Saturday. Nobody wants to get a ticket. Those little
bright orange envelopes are no fun. But I just want to remind anybody that is able to take a few steps
that the parking garage is only $0.50 an hour for the garage that's behind the hotel. That'll be the
trades district garage that is directly behind the showers building. Oh, I'm sorry. You're fine. I was
thinking about the one
the one behind the Hilton. So the one behind trades, the trades district garage that is directly behind
the showers building is 50 cents an hour. So if the lot were full, that would be a cheaper option than
parking at a meter. Right. Well, yes. Yeah. 50 cents an hour. Yes. But it doesn't take long to vote.
I was able to do it in less than 10 minutes. So you might even be able to get away with just putting
a couple quarters in.
Something about having to pay to park just doesn't sit right with me. I am merely trying to save. Oh,
I understand. I understand. Because a ticket is $30. Something about that. I wish there was a way to
get around that. I might know personally that a ticket is $30. But yes, a friend told you that. A friend
did tell me that. OK. Miss Molly, we have some resolutions that you've sent out to us that we need to
deal with.
So I believe the first one on the agenda is appointment of the Election Day workers. Okay. So since
this resolution appoints the Election Day workers,
I do need to fill in the days that we got the list, and I believe Ms. Farris is indicating that was
this morning. So would you like me to read the resolution? I read it when I got the email today. I've
seen what it says. Have you ma'am had a chance to see it? Unless we have to. You don't, but I don't
think the public has seen it, but that's OK.
It's the same resolution that was passed in past years. It indicates that the county chairman will make
nominations. The Democratic chairman person makes nominations for inspector and all the other positions.
Republican will make nominations for all positions but inspector. We will attach their list. I will
fill in the dates.
The now therefore be it resolved clause indicates that pursuant to Indiana code 36611, the individuals
listed in exhibit A and B, which will be the attached list, are duly appointed as precinct election
officers for the primary election occurring in May of 2026, contingent on their acceptance
of the administered oath. Okay, and we've got that list of names.
I'm going to let you give me the legal procedure to follow. Do we just make a motion to accept these?
Correct. So if the election board is OK with the resolution, there should be a motion. I would recommend
a motion to accept with a second and then a voice vote. I will move that we adopt these. I will second.
I have a question about this. It looks like there's still lots to be filled.
So do we need to back to have those officially added or what? So when I spoke with Matt Kochibar after
our last meeting and asked if we could do a blanket where we accept anybody now, one of the
options that he gave was that the board could decide to allow the clerk to fill those so that we don't
need to keep meeting and approving those. And so I will happily step up and as we get employed, as we
get poll workers for election day, I'm happy to go ahead and have those slots filled without our needing
to come back. As long as they're trained. They will be trained. They will be trained, yeah.
I will also state that in the past on election day, we have done a final approval of the full list since
up to the morning of election day. We're still making replacements and pulling people and putting people
in. So, and that's generally the people who are calling and saying that they're unable to work that
day. I know 2024 we did do that on election day for the general. And I think the primary we did it the
night before the election, which are both times that we already have publicly noticed that the election
board will be meeting.
Again, as I mentioned earlier, I've trained referees. I didn't need to hire, but when I needed them,
I really was glad they were trained. So if we have things happen and she needs to put people in, I'd
trust you to put people in. So there's no reason that I can see not to. Just let you put them in.
Thank you. So how do we?
So that would be a resolution basically that the election board under Indiana Code 36519 is delegating
that authority to the clerk. So I would need a few minutes to, I think I can incorporate it in this
resolution, but I would need a few minutes to amend it accordingly. Okay, why don't you do that real
quickly? And let's see. We can take the votes on it.
Can we go ahead and vote on that with the changes that you are making since we trust you to make the
changes we just set up? Yes, but I think the motion would be a motion to approve the resolution with
the requested amendments. I will withdraw my motion and I will make a new motion that we accept this
list with the adjustments being made, the adjustments we've talked about.
Those adjustments are the delegation of power for the clerk to appoint vacancies after today's appointment.
Yes. Second. Those in favor, aye. Aye. Opposed? OK, so Molly, does that help you with what you need?
It does. OK, now we also have one about who is your hall pass workers, which I thought was really cool.
The training I went through out of high school kids there. So this resolution.
We've passed it in the prior elections as well. It allows students who are 16 years of age but not 18
to have the opportunity to serve as an election officer. Pursuant to the code, there are a few things
that they have to meet, and that is listed in the statute. So at least 16 but not 18. The student is
a citizen. The student is a resident of Monroe County. The individual has a cumulative GPA of equivalent not
less than three on a four-point scale. Do they either have permission from their principal, attend a
school that is closed on that day, or have homeschooled the permission of whoever's in charge of their
education. They have parental or guardian permission. They've satisfied the training requirement of
the election board, and otherwise is not, by statute, ineligible to serve. We'll note that
in this resolution, I drafted it
exactly as it was in past elections. That's not what I was thinking of, but that works. And it allows
the students to serve in the capacity of a clerk. The statute does say that the election board is to
designate what capacity the students are to serve in. And it allows the board to say that the students
can serve as any election officer except for inspector.
provide assistance to an any election officer or provide assistance in the preparation of absentee ballots.
I didn't put the provide assistance language in there because they haven't done that in the past. They've
only served in the capacity of the clerk. However, I did want to make the election board aware that
those are options in case it's this board's purview to expand how the students are serving. Mr. Chair,
I would request that the students be allowed to serve in any capacity except for the judge
You never know what is going to happen on election day where we might need to ask someone to step into
another role. And so that would be my preference. What did I say? I was thinking inspector slash judge
because of the classes. But yes, in the role of, in any role except inspector, please excuse me. I was
having that thought myself.
I too have seen some trainings with the young people in them, and they seem very eager to serve on Election
Day. I had a sweet young lady who was too shy to ask a question. I give everyone a chance to ask questions.
She was a very sweet young lady who was too shy to ask in front of everybody, but she saw me in the
hallway and asked the question that she wanted to ask, and she looks forward to working on Election Day.
incredible young people stepping up to serve. I want them to be excited about this, happy to pray for
their prom shoes. That would be my preference, Mr. Chair. I have no problem. Do we need to do that?
Do you need a form of a motion? Sure. I will make a motion that with respect to the Hoosier
that students be allowed to serve in any open position except for the inspector. I'll second that. Question.
I do have a question and this is because of something that somebody and I really don't remember who
it was at the training that I went to for the inspectors and judges. Somebody there said that the 16
and 17 year olds can serve as either a Democrat or Republican because they don't have
voting history, but yet they are nominated by either the Democratic or the Republican Party. So why
aren't they identified as such? They're not nominated by one or the other party. They are brought in
as a group by both of the recruiters. So when they go to the schools, both recruiters are there and
they just go on a separate list. They're not put on a Democratic list or Republican list. Okay.
All right. This says the county chairman
So I thought that was a single party. I haven't seen the resolutions. So the other day when I was there
and some of the students got tied up leaving class and coming and missed 15 minutes. Can you repeat?
I didn't hear the last part. When I was there the other day for the training, there were some students
that got stuck.
getting out of Edgewood, and they missed 10 to 15 minutes. How do we get them caught up? So generally,
it's we have them stay after the class to catch them up on that. And then we change the time that they
are leaving from the training on that slip that we had presented the students. And I wasn't panicked
about it. I figured the difference, they could handle that that morning. Yeah.
I mean, there are times that that does happen in the morning of and the inspector will, if they know
that that individual was not able to be there for the full training, then the inspector will go through
it with them to make sure that they are up to date on it. But the part of that training that they had
missed was what time they needed to be at the location of their polling location and a couple other
of the details that are important but is in their training material.
And students can be up that early in the morning. I'm sorry, go ahead. And I think I did make a quick
change to Ms. Givens' point, because it did say nominations are from the county chairman. So I changed,
with the board's approval, the fourth whereas clause to read, whereas nominations of student poll workers
were received from election worker recruiters on, and then I will fill in the date, and said nominations
are attached as exhibit A, and I will attach a list.
which is incorporated herein and made part of this resolution. So there's no Exhibit B on that one?
I'm being provided one list, so it will be one list. So I took out the Exhibit B language. Okay.
My motion, you second. I haven't voted yet, have we? Those in favor, aye.
Okay, so now we have our I Just think it's great to get those to get the kids involved We need to at
the county fair at the respective party booths Work harder on that. We talked. I remember we we talked
about it last year. We didn't push it that much Because they get normal pay, right? Yeah, they get normal
pay as any of other worker does and so actually
On the student poll workers, whenever I was in the SEATS program and I had to do a capstone project,
mine was called Civic Student Network, and it's specifically directed towards high school students to
get them more involved, and this is one of the main things that I really push in that program that I
created with the schools and helping them get educated on how elections work, but also giving them the
opportunity to be hands-on in the civic roles, and just to have that
live experience of what Election Day looks like.
They were waking up. We were there pretty early in the morning. They were waking up, but the class went
really well. I ended up being at the state house for a legislative matter, and a young man came out
of a line. There was clearly a line of students going to this particular part of the state house, and
he came out and walked toward me, and I thought, I don't know this young person. He must be mistaking
me, but he had been at North, and he came and he worked for us on election day. I said,
Did you get your check yet? And he said he did. And he thanked us for the opportunity to work. So even
though they weren't quite awake when we were there, Election Day working was really meaningful to them.
And I really do believe that if we get them involved at this time, we'll have voters for life. Yeah.
The students really enjoy it.
when we've gone and I haven't really been able to do a lot this year with going to the high schools
like I have in the past just because of all the changes, the new location, trying to make sure everybody
is comfortable and making sure that we have coverage everywhere. But they always have said that they
really enjoy us coming and they would love to see us come more often. So I think that's something that
I'm gonna start looking at with the local high schools. Oh, and
We did go from the primary of 2024 of only having, I think it was 30 high school students that signed
up to work to 180 in the general of 2024. And this year, currently, we are looking at 94 for the primary.
That's the way to go. I don't know about timing. I would be more than willing to go, depending upon
scheduling,
We can't go at the same time, I know that. But we'd be happy to go with you. I would appreciate that.
And you do the students, yeah? Yeah. Yeah. OK. Is there any public comment? Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead, ma'am.
I did want to provide the election board or update on two other resolutions that are not before this
board But that will be before the commissioners and the council the resolution before the council occur
on the 28th and before the commissioners on the 30th at this month and what these resolutions do is codify a
in our respective code sections, the ability to provide the absentee workers who work on election days,
such as travel board and leads, the same annual allowance that the precinct election workers get. Our
code only referred to the precinct election workers, so I just wanted to make the code match the practice
that was occurring. Sounds like something we ought to do. Okay, thank you.
Again, I don't see any comments. Anything from the board? I have some things from the board or from
myself. I've attended all three types of training, the early voting for the clerks, the election day
clerk, and one for the judges and inspectors. I was under the impression that the inspectors at least
were going to receive some kind of DS training, and that did not occur.
And so maybe I just misunderstood, but I know I had been asking about it. And there was nothing in the
packets, and nothing was said about it whatsoever. So Kylie and I did meet with the sheriff, and we
had asked him if he would be able to help us with some de-escalation training. I think it's just between
as busy as the sheriff's office is and as busy as we are that that did not happen
in the way that we would hope, there's also a concern that it would add to the amount of time that we
have those training and the money to pay them for that additional time. So it is not something I'm happy
to continue trying to work on that as we approach the general, but it is not something that worked out
primarily.
Also, you know, I've at least raised the issue multiple times about emergency situations. I'd like to
see one of the binders that the inspectors pick up on Saturday so that we can see what the different
emergency situations that are in there and what the instructions are. Covered in our training last December.
Are they in your office?
Yeah, we have a copy of every emergency exit plan and shelter in place plan for each location that goes
into the binders. We also have, in addition, the emergency guide that is the same but goes to every
location, and that is a step-by-step of this is the solutions that you should be taking, and these are
the, like,
one of the portions is for a fire, you need to be talking to all of your poll workers to know where
to go to meet at if there is a fire. And that's going over those plans as well as what's inside of those
binders. Would there be any reason we couldn't stop by your office? Yeah, that's fine. Okay. It's also
a good time to give a shout out to Miss Jamie at Emergency Management Services, who is generous enough
to attend those meetings with us when her schedule permits. And she checks in with
you, with me, whatever to see that we are okay, if we need anything, and is happy to help us coordinate
in that way.
Yeah, Jamie in 2024 helped with preparing that emergency guide that we put into all of those binders
for the inspectors. She also supplied us with some weather radios that go out to each location as well,
in addition to helping us with preparing the emergency kit that we have created for each of the locations
as well. So I also, at the training with that, or election day specifically,
I was not clear about whether or not ballots were to be counted after the polls closed. Yesterday Ashley
did tell the clerks that they might be asked, those were specific words that she used, to count the
ballots, but I didn't hear that at all and I didn't see it in the training packet for the inspectors
and judges. So will the ballots be counted, are they to be counted twice, which is what is in the training
material we looked at first.
Are they to be going into stacks of 25? The inspectors are the ones with the judges who count the ballots.
They are trained that during the training classes that they will be doing that. We suggest that they
do stacks of 25 to make it easier for them to keep track of how many that they are so that they don't
have to stop and recount again. And the clerks are
potentially asked to help if they are needing help specifically for those larger locations where there
are more ballots cast. That was not said at the training I was at. Are there judges and inspectors?
I was at the training on Tuesday. Is it in the material?
I was at the training as well. But it is in the material? Yes. Which was approved by the Indiana election
division? And by this election board. Thank you. What was handed out looks very different from what
we approved also. It's the same ones. The only changes that were made were the changes that you presented
to Ashley and myself to make. And it looks very different. I appreciate the fact that the
The packets were very, very well organized and ready for people when they walked in the door. But I
was taking notes while I was out the training, and I didn't hear that said at all. I think I would have
caught it. It was important. Also, when you guys were demonstrating the TouchWriter, I asked if audio
was available in Spanish. And you all thought it was. Have you figured that out?
Is there just a toggle? I have not had the time to reach out to Hart. I think that is something that
if, Clerk Brown, if you'd be able to reach out to Hart to get clarification on if it is available to
switch over to Spanish or not. I know you have a phone call with Hart anyway, so. I'll text him now.
Thank you so much. How many pages?
I'm sorry. I'm going to call, I'm going to text him now how many pages are left. The information board
that used to be on a trifold, you had it in, you showed, but there were a lot of things that were just
a single eight and a half by 11. I think it would be good to include a picture of how you want that
organized in with the material that goes up on that board.
We have went ahead and put those items into the information board to make it easier for the inspectors
on Election Day. Will it be in there? It's already in there. OK. A lot easier. The training site was
at also, again, all the Election Day workers heard that there's now a 50-foot radius. It was a 50-foot
radius in 2024 as well.
There was an emphasis on no campaigning. I think it would just be good to add to future things that
that includes that no campaign signs can be within that radius, just so that they hear it. I mean, you
know that. I know that. Everybody up here knows that. But I'm not sure that a 17-year-old clerk would
know that. That was stated at the one I was in. OK. Well, also, at the
election day trainings I attended, Ashley indicated that if the election board needs to go out to a
polling location that all three election board members would have to go. Is that correct? The three
election board members are to be present if they are going anywhere. If they're going anywhere. To any
of the polling locations they are supposed to be together. So my understanding was that it was at least
a bipartisan
bipartisan. Yeah, we were looking into the code. It does state that it has to be the election board
must be present if they are going to a polling location. If that's the case, is there a fleet vehicle
that you have access to that day? We do not vehicle. Um, we need to clarify that.
that was stated at the one I was. What? No, I'm glad that Ashley are there. Kylie has has clarified.
Um. In the packet for early voting, there was instruction sheets for the greeter, but I didn't see that
in the other stuff for Election Day. Will there be greeters at no insights? Okay, no polling locations.
There are not greeters. That's only for early voting. Um. And then
I just felt it would have been good to take one minute to go through that decision tree that you all
worked on so well when you were doing the training. I'd like to see the deescalation.
That is something that we wanted to do. We were working with the sheriff and hopeful that they would
be able to help provide that, even if it was them doing the training to us and then us doing it for
the poll workers. But that's just something that has not been able to happen. And I think it's something
that we're hopeful can happen, but I don't see it happening quickly. No, I don't really see that being
a huge issue for the primary.
If you're trying to get the sheriff to put it together, which you indicated you are, if we have something
together by November, I would think that would be sufficient. I'd be very surprised if we had any issues
during the primary election. Hope not, Jim. Is that something that Ms. Neibel could help with? I'm sorry?
Is that something that Jamie Neibel could help with? The emergency management director for the county.
Certainly would value and accept any perspective that she had. She's absolutely wonderful.
And as I say, she's taken the meetings with Kylie and myself. So I'm happy to, I think she's coming
to the meeting with us tomorrow, right? I believe so. I will mention that to her in hope that we can
something together. Hey, Molly, you took off to do something. Do you need? I think I got everything
that I need. OK. All right. Just making sure that. Any other comment? You know, this is a good opportunity
to thank Ashley. She's actually training a class right now as we are here that I had hoped to get over
to. Ashley works very, very hard, not only making sure that she
has the most up-to-date information in the training packets for our workers, but also taking the feedback
after we've had an election, taking the feedback that's given to us from the people who were actually
on the scene at the polling sites on election day. And that is what informs the training that we give
out based on the experiences of the poll workers. And so when you don't
work at a poll every election, or you don't know necessarily what the most up-to-date election laws
are, it's very easy to pick apart. But she works so hard, and she gives up an evening and weekend job
to help make sure that all of our poll workers are trained properly ahead of the election. So even though
she's not here to get the accolades, I am very appreciative of the training work that she does.
Every time I have come in, I've not gotten a complaint from a worker about the training that they received.
Thank you. And I will state, she is about halfway through of all of her training classes. This is class
11 of 22, and we might be adding an additional two as backup classes. Well, I don't have a ton of experience
dealing with this. However, what I've seen with everything has been thrown at you guys at new office,
moving when you didn't expect to,
All of the things going, I just want to commend you for, you know, glitches happen. I don't care who
you are, what job you do, glitches happen. And I think you guys have handled those well. So thank you.
And please pass it on to Ashley and the rest of your staff. Thank you very much. With nothing else,
I will entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn. Second. Those in favor, aye. Aye. Our next
gathering will be? May 4th. May 4th. In the afternoon-ish.
four or five o'clock. I don't think that's actually set quite yet. It's set. I just don't remember exactly
what time it is. It's either four or five o'clock. Okay, I believe it's four o'clock and we start making
those calls and those have already been noticed. Correct? Yes, those were all noticed. They were part
of the annual notice that we sent out. I went ahead and took care of that one in election day so that
they were already squared away before the year started. And also we don't plan to meet on the seventh.
We're gonna probably have enough of each other all regardless by the time we get to that. So we are
adjourned.