Election board approves machine and staffing plan for early voting and Election Day

The Warrick County Election Board approved a consolidated staffing and machine allocation plan for early voting and Election Day, voting 3-0 to adopt proposed worker counts, poll‑pad allocations and machine numbers for multiple locations.

The board reviewed turnout history and projections for the 2026 primary, noting registered‑voter totals and earlier turnout patterns to estimate demand. Chair (speaker 2) led a site-by-site discussion (Lynnville, Booneville, Boonville, Ohio Township, Living Word/Abundant Life, American Legion and others) and proposed specific staffing and machine counts before moving the consolidated motion. "I'm going to motion that we have 4 people, 2 pole pads, 3 machines at Lynnville; 4 people, 2 pole pads, 4 machines at Booneville; and 6 people, 3 pole pads, 6 machines at [the larger site]," the Chair said while reading the recommendation; the motion was seconded and carried 3-0.

Board members agreed to a default Election Day minimum staffing level of 5 workers, 2 pull pads and 4 machines per location to ensure baseline coverage. For high‑volume sites the board discussed and allocated larger complements: Living Word (referred to in the transcript variously as Living Word, Abundant Life or Freeman) was designated for expanded staffing (board discussed 7 workers) and a higher machine allocation (board discussed up to 8–10 machines) to avoid lines. The board also discussed giving similar expanded coverage to the American Legion and Ohio Township locations based on past peak usage.

Agency staff and vendor experience informed the choices: a staff member noted that inspectors must be trained by law and that lower-level poll workers are not legally required to be trained by the state, a distinction the board factored into operational planning. The board agreed to keep a set of machines in reserve and to move machines between sites as needed on high-demand days.

Members asked staff to produce a spreadsheet summary of the agreed allocations, which Mike Beach (speaker 1) said he would prepare and circulate prior to the next meeting and public testing session on April 1. The motion and allocations were recorded on the meeting record and will serve as the operational plan unless adjustments are needed.