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