Board confirms 13 vote centers, authorizes outreach to American Legion in Middlebury

Elkhart County election staff reported 13 confirmed vote‑center locations for the coming election and asked the board for authority to continue outreach to additional facilities.

Amy (S4), the county’s voter‑registration and vote‑center outreach staffer, told the board she had contacted many sites and confirmed 13 that were willing to host. She said one prior location in Middlebury had asked not to be used again because of damage to the property caused by voters, and recommended the American Legion in Middlebury as an ADA‑compliant alternative with sufficient parking.

Committee member (S2) moved to authorize Amy to approach the American Legion about hosting the two early‑voting Saturdays and election day; Patty (S3) seconded the motion and the board approved it by voice vote. Amy said the American Legion indicated it would be willing to allow use of its facility without cost and that she would add the location to the American Legion’s official calendar if the board wanted her to do so.

Board members emphasized the need to confirm additional sites before printing voter notification cards and noted the vote‑center plan requires at least 30 days for public input. Patty offered to call the unresponsive sites and email a consolidated list so the board could schedule a short meeting to finalize the plan before cards are mailed.

Why it matters: the number and distribution of vote centers affects voter access and turnout. With 13 confirmations the county meets its statutory minimum based on active‑voter totals, but board members expressed concern that 13 is lower than previous cycles and may reduce geographic convenience for some voters.

Next steps: Amy will follow up with remaining facilities, confirm the American Legion calendar entry if approved, and staff will convene the board again to finalize the vote‑center plan before mailing voter notification cards.