Plan approved

Jay County will begin using vote centers next year.

Jay County Election Board approved a resolution Thursday to adopt the county’s vote center plan.

Starting in the 2026 primary, during which parties will select nominees for middle district commissioner, sheriff, auditor, state representatives and other offices, Jay County will use two vote center locations for election day. They will be located at Jay Community Center in Portland and West Jay Community Center in Dunkirk and voters may cast their ballots at either location. 

Previously, the county utilized eight polling locations for its 18 precincts.

Per the plan approved Thursday, early voting will be offered 28 days before the primary election in the auditorium at Jay County Courthouse in Portland. West Jay Community Center is also listed as a suggested satellite vote center for early voting on the two Saturdays before the election.

Approximately 65 out of 92 counties in Indiana either use vote centers or are moving toward implementing them instead of traditional precinct-based voting, which assigns voters to a polling location in their area. Vote centers allow registered voters to cast a ballot at any county polling location on Election Day.

Jay County Election Board began discussing the topic in January. Elliott said she felt it was an ideal time to look into the switch because 2025 is an off-year for elections. She pointed to difficulties finding new poll workers as well as higher turnouts for early voting. The switch also cuts down on costs for renting space.

Jay County Commissioners and Jay County Council approved a resolution in February designating the county as a vote center county. Jay County Election Board formed a study committee and drafted a plan in August for implementing the new polling method. In September, the election board hosted a public hearing to share details about its plan to begin using vote centers in 2026. The election board then held a 30-day public comment period — it’s required by state law — to allow input on the vote center plan. 

Elliott noted Thursday she received no additional comments following the Sept. 15 meeting. She said the only change she made to the plan since then was reflected in the number of registered voters on the document.

As of Wednesday, there were 11,833 registered voters in Jay County, with 10,908 of those voters marked as active.

Elliott plans to alert registered voters with a notice in the mail, add a notice to residents’ tax bills and display signs at former polling locations on Election Day directing voters to the new centers.

Answering a question from Jay County Republican Party representative and election board member Carmen Craig, Elliott noted the plan may be amended in the future. Depending on how the primary goes, Elliott added, the election board could make changes before the general election.

“I think we were just slowly getting to this point anyway,” said Craig. “I’m excited … (I) love the fact that you universally can go to either (location).”

Election board members Elliott, Craig and Dane Mumbower — he serves as Jay County Democratic Party’s representative — approved the plan unanimously. Elliott said she would file the plan with Indiana Election Division.

In other business Thursday, Elliott mentioned she met with election equipment company MicroVote in September to review pricing for next year. She suggested the election board look into purchasing MicroVote “encoders” to use with the county’s voting machines and poll pads. The devices attach to poll pads, allowing poll workers to use a card that automatically detects the voter’s precinct when swiped at the voting machine. (Currently poll workers must manually enter voters’ precincts to pull up the correct ballot.)

“It takes away human error,” she said.

The service would require purchasing the encoders and charging ports, which are priced between $110 and $150 per unit. (MicroVote also charges a $1,500 service fee for the encoders per election.) Election machines would also need to be updated to work with the devices. Elliott said she has funds in the election budget to purchase the equipment and planned to seek price estimates from the company.

She also asked the board about hiring an election support representative from MicroVote to be present during Election Day in case of issues with the new vote center format or the new equipment. The service would cost $2,600. Board members voiced support but took no official action on the matter.