Monroe County election board approves poll locations, readies new early‑voting office, equipment tests and ABS appointments

The Monroe County Rural County Election Board on March 5 approved forwarding a list of 28 confirmed polling locations to the county commissioners, heard a construction and inspection update on a new early‑voting and voter registration office, and set plans for equipment testing and absentee (ABS) staffing ahead of the May primary.

Richard Kreider of the Monroe County Building and Fleet Department showed photos of the new early‑voting space and said building and fire inspections passed, occupancy was set by the fire marshal, and the project is on track for an April 7 target date. “We completed the building inspection and it passed. We also completed the fire inspection. The occupancy number has been officially determined by the fire marshal,” Kreider said. Staff noted the space is nearly finished and listed remaining punch‑list items, furniture orders and IT/maintenance work.

Election staff described operational planning: early‑voting set‑up planned at full capacity with 10 poll books, six print devices and five checkouts available to scale up if needed, and backup poll books reserved for election day. Staff reported 204 ballot styles were reviewed with 32 reviewers in attendance; one race was dropped in the PDF creation process and will be corrected with the Hart/HEART vendor prior to the public test. Staff said they expect to receive v‑drives and then schedule the public test, likely the next Thursday at 9:30 a.m.

The board voted to accept recommended ABS workers submitted by the county party chairs and to attach the party lists as exhibits to the appointment resolution; the board directed the Monroe County Circuit Court Clerk to administer statutory oaths to finalize appointments. Staff said additional ABS workers remain to be appointed and that a special meeting will be scheduled after party chairs submit the full lists (party chairs’ submissions were noted as due by March 20). "Those listed in exhibit A and exhibit B are duly appointed as absentee voter board members for the primary election occurring in May 2026," staff displayed in the proposed resolution language.

The board conducted an extensive review of training materials and emergency planning; members raised detailed edits (clarify the 50‑foot radius rule, decision trees for poll‑book prompts, provisionals handling, emergency site procedures and tabletop exercises). Staff said emergency procedures are included in inspectors’ binders and that participation in a statewide tabletop exercise depends on Secretary of State funding for DHS grant support. Given multiple substantive changes requested, the board voted to table approval of training materials until revisions could incorporate statutory requirements for ABS workers and clearer language for poll workers.

Members also discussed ABS staff parking and shuttle contingencies, including use of a Convention Center overflow lot, limited reserved staff spots at a former Johnson Hardware location, and possible Bloomington Transit options. The board took public offers of backup facilities (Van Buren Community Center) under advisement.

The board adopted a resolution updating ABS pay categories, adding reconcilers and assigning classifications (ABS clerks = category A; travel board and reconcilers = B; ABS leads = C) and instructed staff to forward the resolution to the County Council. The board adjourned and scheduled follow‑up meetings to finalize ABS appointments and the public equipment test.