Grant County Clerk Pam Harris has convened a bipartisan commission to explore the transition from precinct-based elections to vote centers.
According to a Grant County Election Office news release, vote centers provided added flexibility and efficiency to the voting process. In addition, early voting options are expanded.
Nearly half of Indiana’s 92 counties used vote centers in 2019 as well.
In the precinct-based model used currently in Grant County, a voter is assigned to one precinct polling site and on Election Day can only cast their ballot there. While under the vote center model, any registered and eligible voter can cast their ballot at any voting center in the county.
The Indiana Secretary of State’s Election Division has recommended forming a commission to assist in the process of exploring a move to vote centers. As a result, Harris has asked the election advisory commission to help investigate and evaluate the options for vote centers in future elections.
This change could come as early as Fall of 2020.
The commission will help review logistics, policies, technology and other aspects of a potential transition to vote centers.
Vote centers can also provide cost savings, improve voting times and vote counting, according to the release.
Studies show that in counties where vote centers have been implemented, it has not hurt voter turnout either. In fact, some county’s reported an increased turnout due the expanded early voting options.
According to the Election Office, the anticipated next steps include speaking with the Grant County Council and Commissioners to convey the findings of the commission and make any needed budget requests known, reviewing patenting voting center sites and a public outreach program to educate voters.
