Hamilton County election board debates vote-center plan; amendment added but full adoption fails

The Hamilton County Election Board met Sept. 18 to consider an updated vote-center plan that adds five voting locations and updates staffing and cost estimates, but the board did not adopt the plan after debate and public comment.

The vote-center plan presented to the board included two additional centers in Carmel, and one additional center each in Fall Creek, Cicero and Westfield, along with revised estimates for poll workers and costs. “The only changes that we made from our last meeting on August 13 was the adding of 5 additional vote center locations,” the clerk said while describing the packet of materials provided to board members and the public.

The plan drew both support and concern during the meeting. Michael Colby, a Fishers resident who said he has worked polling places for decades, told the board, “I rise in support of the vote centers.” He said centralized centers make it easier to replace malfunctioning machines and offer convenience for voters who cannot reach their assigned precinct on Election Day.

Other public speakers and some board members pressed for stronger safeguards to prevent unilateral reductions in staffing, machines or poll pads. One board member raised concern about language on page 23 of the plan that, as…