Hearing on vote centers set for Monday

The majority of Indiana counties either already have vote centers or are in the process of implementing them.

Local officials hope to join that list soon, allowing registered voters in Jay County to cast ballots at any county designated location starting in 2026.

Jay County Election Board will host a public hearing at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Jay County Courthouse to share details and hear questions from the public about moving toward vote centers. 

Vote centers serve as an alternative to traditional precinct-based voting, in which voters are assigned a voting location in their area. They allow registered voters to cast a ballot at any county polling location on Election Day.

Currently, the county has eight polling locations divided among its 18 precincts. Plans are to implement two vote centers in Jay County — one at Jay Community Center in Portland and another at West Jay Community Center in Dunkirk. (Early voting will continue to be available at Jay County Courthouse.)

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 over the last few months and drafted a plan in August for implementing the new polling method. That plan will be presented at Monday’s public hearing.

Why change?

Jay County clerk Missy Elliott explained the board first began discussing the topic in January. With 65 out of Indiana’s 92 counties already utilizing or moving toward vote centers, she said, it seemed like the logical next step forward.

“I felt that it’s a good time to look at the possibility for Jay County given that this was an off-year for elections,” said Elliott. “Our poll workers are getting older, and it’s harder to find people willing to work the polls.”

Another reason for the switch leads back to early voting turnout. The county has seen a higher number of registered voters casting their ballots early as opposed to on Election Day for the last few years, Elliott said.

Switching to vote centers — Indiana has allowed counties the option since 2011 — cuts down on election costs. Fewer locations means less money spent on renting space — currently the county pays $100 per polling location — as well as fewer poll workers. (Elliott noted she would like to look at raising poll workers’ pay, pointing to the increased number of voters they would likely see at the two locations on Election Day if vote centers are implemented.)

What would change?

Per the drafted plan, Jay County would use two vote center locations for Election Day — Jay Community Center, 115 E. Water St., Portland, and West Jay Community Center, 125 Hoover St., Dunkirk.

For the 2026 primary election, early voting — it starts 28 days before Election Day — will be offered at the courthouse auditorium, 120 W. Main St., Portland. West Jay Community Center is also listed as a suggested satellite vote center to be open for early voting the two Saturdays prior to the election.

Registered voters may choose any of those locations within designated time frames to cast their ballots.

Votes will still be tallied and reported by precinct, with the county to continue using the MicroVote Infinity voting panels purchased in recent years.

Monday’s public hearing will follow the election board’s regular meeting. Elliott aims to present the plan for vote centers, share copies with members of the public and entertain questions.

If vote centers are put into place, Elliott noted, there will be signs at former polling locations on Election Day directing voters to the new centers.

What happens next?

Per state law, the election board must hold a public comment period for 30 days to allow input on the vote center plan before finalizing it. Once public comments have been implemented to the plan, the election board must vote unanimously to adopt it at a public meeting. The plan is then filed with Indiana Election Division.

From there, it’s a matter of evaluating vote centers with every election and amending the plan as needed. Elliott hopes to start using the new polling method in the May 2026 primary.

“I’m excited,” Elliott said. “I think it’s going to be great. After talking with other counties, at first, the voters were apprehensive, but once they’d seen it in motion, they really liked the option to be able to go wherever to (vote) and not have to worry about going to their specific location.”