[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6210016,"mediaKeyId","3728596-82a25949fb95afd2fa1fd8f71b85a936","parentId",3728596,"title","Marshall County officials discuss raising technician pay and shifting early-loading to hourly to shore up election staffing","audioSeconds",728,"startMs",776000,"endMs",1504000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3728596-82a25949fb95afd2fa1fd8f71b85a936&start=776&end=1504","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3728596-82a25949fb95afd2fa1fd8f71b85a936/thumbnail_776000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6210016/Marshall-County/Indiana/Marshall-County-officials-discuss-raising-technician-pay-and-shifting-early-loading-to-hourly-to-shore-up-election-staffing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210016-09c735dd41ec523c5ae9b0dc8e39a836/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190349&Signature=U~f5gxCzP9IaweXujlvXJ5FwwHNCfGtZ7LCb1IB3EfjFC2DShqLk1fAF9OScXn3WrE~kzNrVhgnPXra4Udtd7U70zxFnHMLVM8ztAfTk73cuvI9b~zj39nEllL01Mf4u8NTT~t5niUSAjLGbuhDoIyBrTG-FRe0XOrX88EE9b0753mzHn-irhXcRahm3kLkQzJ1s1muts~3K7solECqI90mDmHlxZzuab~fiKnmBfmhLLOHkMKSvrMmy63-VyU6lLDjGsV5kEtV7MBM2H5eJWOgtU6x3w~Zf9tlT5rPZBAU~5ru1cIATmGP2eyKoqcwUwhaDGgDRI2iO~85PPqzG3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marshall County IN","date","2025-06-10T00:25:07.55Z","article","Marshall County election officials discussed increasing pay for election technicians and clarifying how early-loading and other election duties are paid, saying higher wages and clearer job descriptions may be needed to retain and recruit skilled workers.

Staff said technicians previously earned about $14 per hour and were raised to $18 for the most recent election; officials discussed a possible target of $25 per hour for technicians with sustained machine and troubleshooting responsibilities. One member said technicians must have \"working knowledge of the machines,\" problem-solving ability and people skills that cannot be gained in a single day.

Officials also debated whether early-loading compensation should be paid hourly rather than as a per-diem. One member said the county has historically paid early-loading as a per-diem but that hourly pay could be fairer when employees work extended or interrupted shifts. The group noted payroll classification is typically governed by job descriptions, and election workers currently lack standardized job descriptions tied to county classifications.

The board discussed differences in pay between partisan judges and inspectors. An official said judges representing the county's Democratic party have additional evening return responsibilities, which has been treated as a higher pay rate in some counties. The discussion referenced past adjustments in per-person payments and a reduction in the gap between partisan judge pay levels in the most recent adjustment. Board members said the pay differential is rooted in state practice and Secretary of State guidance about opposing-party attendance at certain stages of vote handling.

Members expressed broad support for raising technician pay and for moving toward hourly pay for some tasks, but they did not take a formal vote. One official said they will consult payroll and other counties to determine statutory and classification constraints, then return with recommendations. The board asked staff to proceed with discretion on hourly versus per-diem decisions and to report any statutory limits they find.

No binding action was recorded; members agreed to bring proposed pay and classification updates back to the board and to factor any changes into the upcoming budget submission.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Election Board Meeting 2025-06-09","oneSentenceSummary","Marshall County election officials reviewed poll-worker and technician pay, discussed moving early-loading from per diem to hourly, and flagged the need for job descriptions to improve recruitment and continuity.","taxTitle","Marshall County, Indiana","taxId",70741,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210020,"Marshall County election officials weigh keeping 12 vote centers as turnout shifts and rental fees arise",548,186000,734000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3728596-82a25949fb95afd2fa1fd8f71b85a936&start=186&end=734","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3728596-82a25949fb95afd2fa1fd8f71b85a936/thumbnail_186000.jpg","/articles/6210020/Marshall-County/Indiana/Marshall-County-election-officials-weigh-keeping-12-vote-centers-as-turnout-shifts-and-rental-fees-arise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210020-f831f46375dc7f611212a4744d7eaa13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190349&Signature=IS21bU6E~JVPdJuoyl3HOCx-RtNBKGH0wC0-m-qYJS1KDKWk1zoPMwJ~lC3BHWcBaOH1kiVOzrWM4g-jaNEoVYseZUduz20WWogIzDx2IV6B~kQ1loc64AxXSS3v1EMikHOzNJcvei6HcXLP2XD3qPccmWLzYULlNvzASXciuQZMqiQ22Ieha9y0H5ZX85o6bWue-UKwrIT7ZlvIwErNcR7N7jkfGYT4YqWSjKCvSYwfbPNoT3yOw3c~GKk3L7z6vBxhHObilWjJJUTvCikcGhc3nF8fM6pAIOoeprY58Ho941xQVVFMwyDKEECHKWQf2Tw8fiBlEPo4HrKPVp2kxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marshall County election officials on Wednesday reviewed voter turnout at the county's 12 vote centers and discussed whether to reduce the number of locations amid shifting usage patterns and new facility rental fees.

Officials said turnout increased markedly at several locations in the most recent election. One official said Plymouth West rose from 512 to 787 voters between comparison elections; other centers saw increases described in the meeting as roughly 269 and 167 more voters at individual sites. The board discussed whether one lightly used location could be closed and its voters ‘‘absorbed into Argus and Bourbon.’’

The figures prompted officials to recommend keeping the vote-center footprint unchanged for now. \"I kinda think, we leave it like it is,\" one member said after reviewing the numbers, and others agreed to watch turnout for another cycle before making a change.

Officials also flagged a practical cost issue: the Knights of Columbus told the elections office after the last general election that it will begin charging for rentals. The office reported a $300 rental fee and a $250 deposit; staff said the Knights' board may waive the deposit but there are no guarantees. One official said that, because the county has not previously paid site fees, the office will need to include any new rental costs in next year’s budget planning.

The meeting included logistics discussion about machine balance and line lengths. One official said the number of voting machines worked well overall and that the only site with notably long lines was the early-voting location. The board agreed to keep machine quantities unchanged for the next cycle but said minor adjustments could be made if needed.

Staff reported uncertainty about long-range facility calendars and said the office will follow up with host sites to confirm future reservations and deposits. One member said they would consult the auditor's office about how a deposit could be handled on the county books.

The board did not take a formal vote to change the number of vote centers. Members agreed to monitor turnout and facility-fee developments and reconvene if new information suggested a change was warranted.

The meeting concluded with routine closing actions.","Marshall County election officials reviewed turnout at vote centers, discussed possible consolidation and noted that a new $300 rental fee and $250 deposit request from the Knights of Columbus could affect site selection and budgets.","actionData","errors"]

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Marshall County officials discuss raising technician pay and shifting early-loading to hourly to shore up election staffing

Marshall County election officials weigh keeping 12 vote centers as turnout shifts and rental fees arise