Elkhart County election board recommends updated poll-worker pay to commissioners

The Elkhart County Election Board on March 27 recommended that the county commissioners approve an updated ordinance setting poll-worker pay and related allowances, citing fairness and recruitment concerns.

Jenny explained the county’s 2014 ordinance language and said the former clerk had not followed it consistently. The board read proposed rates into the record: clerks $150 per election day, facilitators $150, supervisors $170, a $10 meal allowance and a $20 training payment. For early voting the proposed schedule includes a $122 daily rate for Mondays (a longer day) and $110 per day Tuesday through Saturday.

Board members and a public commenter questioned whether the facilitator from the opposite political party who travels with the supervisor should receive a larger premium than the $5 currently allowed; one committee member suggested increasing that to $10. The board asked the county attorney to review whether such an adjustment is permissible and also noted the need to stay within the current budget for elections.

Jenny clarified the payroll consequences for early-voting workers: anyone earning more than the IRS/Indiana thresholds must be issued a W-2 and be set up in payroll if they work more than election day (for setup/tear-down or early voting). "If you're working early voting, obviously you're going to make over that $600 [threshold]," she said, adding the auditor’s office has been withholding then reconciling with workers as needed.

The board voted to recommend the proposed wages and per-diem schedule to the county commissioners; the recommendation passed unanimously (3–0). The clerk said the item is scheduled for the commissioners' meeting on Monday, March 30 at 9 a.m.