Porter County board approves early-voting sites, equipment delivery and audit participation ahead of primary

The Porter County Election Board approved logistics for the upcoming primary, including added early-voting stops, a contract for movers to deliver new polling equipment, and participation in a scheduled post-primary audit.

Director (Speaker 2) presented the proposed early-voting schedule for the primary: routine Tuesday and Thursday early-vote sites with two added Saturday locations (South Haven Library and the Chesterton European Market) and a Jamestown Apartments stop scheduled for the final week of early voting. The board moved and approved the schedule so staff could publicize the locations.

Staff also reported that all new equipment arrived on March 4 in five semi-truck loads and that facilities, clerk staff and election staff assisted in unloading and putting equipment into storage. The board approved a resolution hiring Office Products Professionals to deliver polling equipment to the various locations for the primary.

Board members unanimously agreed to participate in the post-primary audit scheduled for June 12 and invited board members to observe the process in the elections office. The director said the county had previously hosted audits in 2019 and that, because the county uses the eV and DS equipment, state auditors wanted to review procedures on-site.

The board’s votes on these operational items were routine and carried by voice vote. Members asked staff to finalize the mover contract, publish the public-test schedule (April 6) and circulate the full delivery schedule and audit invitation to the board.