Election board approves absentee ballot procedures, keyholder designations and asks staff to coordinate MicroVote presentation with county officials

At its Feb. 25 special meeting, the LaPorte County Election Board approved multiple administrative resolutions and heard from a voting-equipment vendor about long-term replacement of voting panels.

Absentee ballot and travel-board authorizations: The board voted to adopt a resolution designating proxies to initial absentee ballots and security envelopes and to authorize the absentee travel board (ABS travel board) to travel outside LaPorte County in narrowly defined emergency circumstances to serve hospitalized or otherwise incapacitated voters. The board also authorized the travel board to complete ABS applications and accept ballots from registered voters in the presence of a travel-board team when voters call in and request the service.

Ballot security and keyholders: Staff explained that absentee ballot boxes were outfitted in 2021 with dual locks so that access requires multiple parties; the board approved a resolution allowing each board member to designate one designee to hold a key during a term, and discussed labeling and notification procedures so that any access to locked boxes would be traceable.

MicroVote presentation and equipment planning: Steve Grama, a vendor representative with MicroVote (and associated with the county's vendor), told the board the county's voting panels are aging and a new high-resolution panel is available but procurement is complex and costly. He described inventory levels, possible savings from reducing the county's inventory and long lead times and chip-supply issues that could delay acquisition. The board approved a motion to have staff coordinate with county commission and council to place the issue on their radar for a multi-year plan and to allow staff and board members to present jointly.

Votes and follow-up: All resolutions listed above were adopted by voice vote. The board directed clerk staff to prepare the formal resolution documents, to notify party chairs about absentee-worker counts, and to arrange the follow-up outreach to county officials regarding voting-panel replacement.

What's next: Clerk staff to circulate the written proxy and travel-board resolutions, coordinate with party chairs to identify absentee workers, and schedule presentations with the county commission and council about potential multi-year replacement of voting panels.