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St. Joseph County Election Board approves using old poll-pad iPads as electronic sample ballots; discusses absentee staffing and vote-center sites for May
Summary
The St. Joseph County Election Board voted to repurpose surplus poll-pad iPads as electronic sample ballots to reduce printing costs and discussed absentee staffing levels and vote-center locations for the May primary, including efforts to secure Clay High School or nearby alternatives.
The St. Joseph County Election Board on an unspecified date voted to repurpose surplus poll-pad iPads as electronic sample ballots and discussed staffing and site plans for the May primary.
Board members and staff said repurposing about 92 unused poll-pad iPads would reduce printing costs for sample ballots in the primary and general elections. Staff told the board that vendors No Inc. and Microvote had been consulted and that the county can legally convert decommissioned poll pads under the IEC-6 disposal guidance. Staff estimated printing sample ballots for all locations would cost roughly $2,700 for the primary and $2,000 for the general, and that reusing the iPads would save “well over $5,000” on printing alone.
The board also reviewed absentee-voting totals from prior cycles to estimate how many absentee workers to schedule. Staff displayed absentee figures from the 2018 and 2022 primaries and generals and emphasized that primary turnout has historically been much lower than general turnout, leading to periods when absentee staff were underutilized and sent home. Staff recommended the board authorize separate staffing resolutions for the primary and the general so the number of absentee workers could be adjusted by formal resolution.
On vote centers, the board discussed maintaining roughly 41 vote centers for the May primary (down from a traditional 42 after one site declined last year). Board members raised availability issues for Clay High School and other closed schools in the area; staff said Clay, Warren and other nearby facilities are closed but that the school corporation claims some sites are still used for career and technical education. Staff said Chris Lyle is contacting the South Bend schools and will provide a full list of proposed vote-center locations to the board.
A motion to repurpose the poll-pad iPads as electronic sample ballots was made, seconded and passed by voice vote. The board directed staff to draft the absentee-worker resolutions for both the primary and the general and to return with recommended staffing numbers and location details at the next meeting.
Staff said poll pads repurposed as sample ballots would be operated by poll workers, kept secure, and used alongside paper sample-ballot books for voters who need assistance.
The decision followed vendor and election-division guidance cited by staff and a review of inventory; staff said many other counties already use repurposed iPads for sample ballots.
