Director outlines fall election timeline: ballot ratification Sept. 4, testing and mailings set

Director Patrick Becker provided a detailed operations update for the fall election timetable and readiness at the board’s Aug. 26 meeting. He said the third ballot proof had been sent to political parties and school corporations before the noon deadline and that, by law, the ballot will be ratified on Sept. 4. "Ballot proofing is currently underway. The 3rd version of the ballot proof was sent out today, prior to noon," Becker said.

Becker said staff are finishing the move to a new election operations center (network installation scheduled to finish the day of the meeting) and that 24-hour security commenced Aug. 24 and will run through the end of November. Preventive maintenance is under way on roughly 2,400 pieces of equipment (ExpressVote 2s, DS200s, DS850s) with a target of Sept. 4 to finish repairs. He gave key dates: Sept. 7 to begin vote-by-mail testing and create memory sticks for machines, Sept. 14 to begin logic-and-accuracy testing and the first day for seasonal workers, and Sept. 11 when staff will present a vote center plan for board approval. Becker also noted over 150 planned vote-center sites had confirmed availability, though Rocky Ripple Town Hall remained questionable due to flood damage and staff are in contact with the site and its deputy director.