Residents voice mixed views on hand-counting and tabulating machines at Charles Mix County meeting

Around 15 residents spoke during the public-comment period at the Charles Mix County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 23, 2024, expressing both support for and opposition to hand-counting ballots and to the use of the county's tabulating machine. The remarks prompted a question-and-answer exchange with county officials but resulted in no formal action.

Chairman Keith Mushitz opened the session at 10:00 a.m., and Auditor Jason Gant and other county officials fielded questions from commenters. The transcript records that residents raised concerns about counting methods and the tabulating machine's role in local elections; some speakers urged a return to hand counts, while others defended existing procedures. The meeting record says "various questions and answers took place" and that no change was made to election processes during the session.

Gant later provided an update on the post-election audit during the auditor's report, which the minutes note along with other administrative items. The board did not schedule or adopt any policy or procurement changes related to election equipment during the meeting. The commission will next meet on June 6 and June 27, 2024, at the courthouse.