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Madison County elections office reports turnout, consolidation plans and new voting system ahead of November
Summary
Board of Elections Chair Tracy Dean told the Madison County Board of Commissioners that early voting in May drew 2,569 voters, flagged operational issues (facility acoustics, staffing) and outlined possible savings from precinct consolidation while urging the board to defer decisions until after the November election and pending state guidance on new voting equipment.
Tracy Dean, chairman of the Madison County Board of Elections, told commissioners on June 29 that the county’s May early-voting period processed 2,569 ballots and that the Danville precinct recorded 406 votes on election day. Dean said the office redirected 186 voters who showed up at the wrong precinct and explained state law limits on provisional ballots before 5 p.m.
Dean described operations in the larger election room as successful — with 25 machines in place and capacity to add more — but noted an echo in the space and suggested the county consider sound mitigation if the site remains an early-voting location. He also raised staffing strains: the office is nearing 6,000 calls handled and has struggled to retain poll workers, he said.
On cost, Dean said the May election cost the county approximately $50,000 and the June primary about $22,000. He presented a rough scenario estimating that consolidating from 12 precincts to a single voting location during a three-election year could lower costs from about $125,000 to $76,000 (a savings figure he described as roughly $49,000), and projected larger savings in a heavier election year.
Dean said legal counsel advised tabling consolidation decisions until after the November general election so staff can focus on current operations. He also flagged changes coming from the state: the QR code will remain on ballots through 2028 and the state will deploy a new paper-based voting system with on-demand ballot printers that county officials expect will require added training and potentially additional local purchases of printers and supplies.
Commissioners asked for precinct-by-precinct election-day numbers; Dean agreed to provide the data. The board did not take immediate formal action on consolidation or equipment procurement and directed staff to continue work with the Secretary of State’s office and to return with further information.
The next step: county elections staff will continue operating under current precinct layouts through November and will resume public outreach about consolidation options in 2027 if the board chooses to pursue changes for a future implementation date.
