Monroe County clerk candidates back vote centers, diverge on ballot scanning and rural access

Three Democrats running in the Monroe County clerk’s race told a League of Women Voters forum in Bloomington that they support modernizing elections but drew distinctions over how to protect voter access and election security.

Tree Martin Lucas, the current chief deputy in the clerk’s office, said the clerk’s role is personal: "The clerk's office isn't political. It's personal," and argued vote centers would make provisional ballots count rather than be tossed when voters show up at the wrong precinct. Tanner Brham and Joe Davis also voiced support for vote centers; Brham called himself "an extremely strong supporter," while Davis said the idea must be paired with measures to preserve access for rural and elderly voters if it requires closing precincts.

Why it matters: Vote centers change where voters cast ballots and can reduce discarded provisional votes, but they can also shift convenience away from remote precincts. The winning clerk will oversee elections, court filings, records and services that affect everyday interactions with county government.

All three candidates prioritized nonpartisan service and improved public communication. Lucas stressed listening to the public and staff expertise and said long‑term equipment costs could fall with vote centers. Brham emphasized using his project‑management and technology experience from Indiana University to make office data more accessible. Davis emphasized maintaining public trust, better self‑help tools and keeping services convenient for those who live outside Bloomington.

On ballot processing, candidates split: Joe Davis opposed scanning early ballots before election day, arguing it risks the secrecy of the ballot and could undermine trust: "No way, no how," he said. Tree Lucas and Tanner Brham said they support earlier scanning to speed results and cited procedural safeguards that keep ballots anonymous until officially tallied.

Candidates also described their approaches to staff management and voter outreach. Lucas highlighted years of inside experience managing election seasons; Brham emphasized collaboration and modern outreach tools; Davis emphasized training, institutional knowledge and expanding accessible resources such as free legal kiosks.

Moderator Alana Stonereaker reminded the audience that Election Day is Tuesday, May 5, and early voting begins Tuesday, April 7.

Looking ahead: Each candidate pledged to emphasize accessibility and transparency if elected; the differences on ballot‑scanning timing and on how to mitigate impacts on rural precincts are likely to shape debate as the primary approaches.