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Lake County council members raise questions about election-office staffing and poll-worker training records
Summary
Council members said employees from the county election office were assigned to set up a party caucus during work hours and raised concerns about records showing some election inspectors were paid despite no documentation of required training; council members said they will refer the matter to the election board and pursue follow-up.
Lake County council members on Thursday said they were following up on two personnel and payroll concerns at the county election office: that several election-office employees were assigned to set up a partisan caucus during work hours on Feb. 28, and that some election inspectors appear to have been paid for training for which there is no documented attendance.
The matter was raised during the council’s public-comment period, when a council member said the allegation had been reported to the county chairman, who is responsible for appointing staff to the election office. The speaker said the party had indicated it would reimburse the county for work time but that council members had not received confirmation of repayment or of corrective action.
Why it matters: County personnel policies prohibit employees from performing political work during their government work hours, and poll-worker training is required by law; if county employees were paid for political activity or inspectors were paid without completing mandatory training, the issues could trigger administrative or legal review.
What the council said it will do: Speakers said the matter was brought to the election board and that at least one councilor intends to pursue the issue through “a different avenue” if it is not resolved. Council member Constance Piscuit said she would attend the election-board meeting and urged a formal investigation if records or reimbursements are missing. “I couldn’t agree more with my colleagues,” Piscuit said in public comment.
Details from the meeting: The alleged caucus setup took place on Feb. 28, the day before the March party caucuses, and the poll-worker training in question occurred shortly before school-district elections in Crown Point and a neighboring district. The training stipend cited in discussion was an extra $30 paid to inspectors; meeting speakers said some records show inspectors received kits and pay despite lacking documented attendance.
Next steps and open questions: Council members asked for documentation showing any reimbursement from the party and asked the election board to confirm attendance records for the training classes. The meeting record does not show a formal motion by the full council to open an internal investigation; speakers said they will follow up at the election board meeting and with county leadership.
Community context: Speakers said the election office in Lake County operates under a hybrid appointment system in which county party chairs and commissioners have roles in staffing; one councilor suggested reviewing the enabling statutes that create that structure if the process contributes to recurring problems.
No formal disciplinary or legal actions were recorded during the meeting; council members asked staff and the election board to provide documentation at future meetings.
