Good morning, everyone.

We'll call the uh Marion County election board meeting to order here March 6th.

It is 10 07 a.m.

Before we get started, we'll do a round of introductions.

Um we'll start with the board, we'll have staff and then council.

So I'll start with myself, Nolita Stewart, Chair.

Good morning, Jennifer Ping, Vice Chair.

Kate Sweeney Bell, Secretary.

Patrick Becker, Director of Elections.

Brad Boswell, outside council.

Daniel Pullium Outside Council.

Adam Wicker Corporation Council.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thanks for everyone for introductions.

We'll uh jump right into the agenda here.

We have a number of contracts to review and approve.

Um so uh I'll kick it over to you, Director Becker to go through the first one, Blue Crest.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um in front of you are um a series of of memorandums uh regarding these contracts, and um want to go through these individually.

Um the first, as you mentioned, is uh DMT Global Uh Solutions Global Corporation doing business as Bluecrest.

Um staff is uh requesting the board approve and authorize uh a new agreement with Blue Crest to continue licensing and support uh for hardware and software for our Relia vote uh vote by mail solution.

Uh the original contract and scope uh were negotiated using a national purchase national purchase agreement for the hardware um as well as software.

That purchase agreement expired in 2025, the national purchase agreement.

Uh so this is a new agreement that is substantially similar to the one previously approved by this board in 2022.

However, it does not include uh any references to the national purchase agreement.

Uh because we already have procured the the equipment, um, this is really just ongoing um you know, licensing fees uh support and maintenance.

Um so it is a substantially smaller contract because um it does not have those national purchase agreement um those documents in there.

Um the original contract uh was from 2022 through 2024, um, and it was a not to exceed of two million dollars.

Uh this new contract would be um from 2025 through 2027, and it would be uh a not to exceed of 475,000 dollars.

Um happy to answer any uh questions that you might have.

Questions from the board.

Do you want to really is it easier to go through each of them and then vote separately?

You want to go ahead and vote on bluecrest?

Uh council.

It doesn't matter either way.

Okay, I'll take a motion to for bluecrest.

I move approval.

Second.

Okay, properly motion a second, show the chair voting aye.

I vote aye.

No, sorry.

Probably motion a second.

I'll call Roe, Vice Chair.

I'll Madam Clerk, and show the chair voting aye.

Sorry, we went too fast there.

The next one, Director Becker.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The next one is for um knowing LLC.

Um I did want to uh provide a brief update for the board on this.

Um so it uh and I referenced this in the memo for you that we are currently in an RFP for a long-term e-poll book solution.

Uh that RFP has uh kind of taken uh too long for us to get um to feel confident that we're we'd be able to have a a new system up and running for this election.

So what's in front of you today is um uh what we would consider sort of transition contract uh that is a short-term contract with no ink uh using the same hardware and software that we used in 2024 to get us through the the May election.

Uh so this contract um is is an amendment to uh uh a previous agreement.

Um the the original contract uh terms were negotiated in 2018.

Uh the contract has been amended a few times um since then.

Um the original um not to exceed is um 1.5 million dollars.

Um the amended contract for March through May of 2026 would be a not to exceed of an additional 40,000 dollars.

Um so that covers the support and licensing that we need for uh this upcoming primary.

Uh the intention would be that post-primary this board would make a decision and award a long-term e-poll book contract based on the RFP that we've um that's underway right now.

Any questions from the board?

No.

I have a question.

Uh we have read in um well in the news and in the uh the rags, I guess you would say, that there was uh an issue with some of the e-poll books, and uh is that going to affect this at all?

Um I mean we're not gonna have to go back to paper poll books, are we?

Sorry, Jen Hanlin.

Please don't I I but we need to know that that this is uh something that's going to work.

I I know that they've said the Secretary of State's office has said we have a fix.

Is that true?

Um Madam Clerk, I think the our best understanding at this point is that um the way that these e-poll books functioned in 2024 is the way that they will be functioning um in 2026.

Um my understanding is the the new code requirements were um essentially rolled back out of the system.

I've not gotten confirmation that that has actually happened yet, um, and that's something that we're closely monitoring.

Um my understanding is this week we were supposed to have by the end of this week an update from the state as to the process the the progress that they've made on that.

Um what I will say is that um any county that does vote centers uh that has e-poll books will require this role this code rollback to happen for the poll books to function you know properly.

Um so that gives me confidence the state will get it done because it is a statewide issue.

And is that something that uh that can come back on us or are we going to how can they how can a how can a and this maybe isn't a question for you, maybe it's a question for our attorneys, but how can they roll back uh something that is required under Indiana Code?

We might well I might not agree with it, but if that is a component, how are how does that work?

Um I don't I don't know that I'll be able to address the legal aspect.

What I would say is what they're doing and what they're attempting at the state is to provide the data in a way that the vendors uh can uh make the appropriate adjustments to what we're talking about really are um we call them flags, but alerts that show up on a voter's record when they um when they're when their record is pulled up on the e-poll book.

My understanding is the state is going to provide essentially supplemental data to vendors that will help them identify which voters need those flags and which which don't.

To your point, Madam Clerk, these things have to be developed by software developers.

They have to be uh deployed to the environment and they have to be tested.

Um we've been told that it's being developed and it's going to be deployed.

We aren't at the point where we've been able to test this at a county level yet.

Um what I would say is I don't know how that comes back to this board.

Um it will potentially impact our our checking in of voters and possibly present some uh conflicting information for voters about what's actually required for them to be able to check in.

But this vendor is ready for it.

Yes.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

There's no further questions on note ink.

Let's go ahead and uh take a motion to uh approve the con the memorandum.

I move approval.

Second, okay, properly motion and second.

Call Rowe, vice chair.

Aye, Madam Clerk.

Aye.

I'd show the chair voting aye.

Okay.

I think you want to move to the next one, Dr.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Uh memo number three uh is uh regarding uh Fagry drinker uh biddle wreath.

And this is um again a um similar language to a previous contract.

Um we're seeking authorization from the the board here to approve this contract.

Um the original scope and fees were negotiated in 2023.

Um and that contract had been amended two different times in 2024 and 2025, uh, which leads us to uh a new agreement.

This uh new agreement is a three-year term uh through the 2020 2028 um election cycle.

The original term was 2023 through 2025 with a not to exceed of 2 million dollars.

This is a term from 2026 through 2028 for a not to exceed of 1.5 million.

And again, the uh the service provided is election related and election specific legal counsel.

So obviously we have our corporation council, but they don't represent us in court.

Um and and Fagary has a specific uh expertise within election related law, which is why uh this contract is necessary.

And happy to answer any other questions.

Any questions?

No.

Okay.

No questions as for a motion to I guess approve the signing of the extension of the contract of the memorandum.

Um Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve um memorandum number three for uh the contract renewal for Fagry Dringle and Bill Reath.

Second.

Okay, properly motioned and second.

Call Roe, Vice Chair.

Aye, Madam Clerk, aye.

Okay, show the chair voting aye.

Okay, I think we have three more here.

So uh memorandum number four.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

This is related to Robert Half Incorporated doing business as office team for temporary staffing services for 2026.

Um again, the board seeking uh um author staff is seeking the authorization to approve a new professional service agreement with this vendor.

Um the contract scope is similar to uh previous agreements with office team that were approved in 2023 and were since amended in 2024 and 2025 by this board.

Um staff has been working with the Indianapolis Purchasing Department to understand that this contract eventually will be good put out for a bid likely over this coming summer.

So this contract is a one-year term for the year of 2026 for temporary staffing for both the primary and the general, and we will be working with the purchasing department over the summer time to put out bids for temporary staffing agencies for a future uh contract 2027 and beyond.

Um so this really is to get us through this cycle, and we've committed to purchasing to to open this up for bid for a long-term contract later.

Um happy to answer any questions.

We'll probably talk a little bit more about what these folks do in subsequent agenda items, but um you know, right off the bat, they help us with providing staff for our ballot proofing.

Um they also help us with um you know election day um supplementing election day um workers as well and uh across the variety of um early voting and absentee processing um provide us temporary staff where we're unable to fill those with direct hires to the county sense any questions from the board.

How long have we uh been partnered with this company?

It's been a long time, right?

Um as I I came back to the county in 2018 and we've been um working with this company at least that long.

And if I could, I I would also add they're not the only staffing agency that we work with.

We do utilize a city a city vendor, uh, but when uh we're recruiting around 3,000 people in election, we kind of we we look everywhere.

Yeah, okay.

There are no further questions.

Uh ask for a motion to approve memorandum number four.

I move approval of memorandum four for Robert Have DBA office team.

Second, okay, properly motion and second.

Call Rowe, Vice Chair.

Aye, Madam Clerk, aye.

Show the chair voting aye.

And we're gonna need a lot of people because a lot of people are gonna come out and vote, right?

Highest primary ever.

All right, uh memorandum number five.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

This is um related to a professional service agreement with Breden Signer Imaging for printing services.

Uh this is a contract that was is awarded based on uh request for bid RFB-45 ELC-33.

Um that was a bid that we put out with the purchasing department in 2025.

Um Breedensteiner was determined to be capable and was um the most responsive and lowest um responsive bid um for RFB 45 ELC-33.

This contract is a three-year term from 2026 through 2028 with a not to exceed of 500,000 dollars over the the three-year term.

And happy to answer any questions.

The major thing that uh that Breedensteiner provides for us that is what I would say very unique to us is our uh vote by mail envelopes.

They are customized to work with our inserting machine.

Um there's a cut that has to be uh that has to appear in a certain place and they are not standardized sized envelopes.

They are specialized sizes to uh accommodate the insertion and the the automation of that machine.

Uh he also provides all of the the envelopes for um our provisional ballots, um early voting, so um there's a lot of uh material that he provides to us every election.

I know it doesn't sound exciting, but I mean getting these envelopes right uh election wise really is uh it's a nerd's paradise and they too have been providing services to uh the Marin County Election Board for many years, yes.

Couple of decades, I guess.

Uh yes, yes, yes.

I need a backup plan soon.

All right, if there are no further questions, I ask for a motion to approve uh memorandum number five.

I'll move approval of Murray memorandum number five for Breedensteiner printing.

Second, okay, properly motion and second.

Call Rowe, Vice Chair.

Aye, Madam Clerk, aye.

Okay, and so the chair voting aye.

All right, I think the last memorandum here is number six.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and certainly not not least.

Um so memorandum number six is related to a professional service agreement, an amendment with pristine image international for cleaning services at our election service center, um, which is important.

Um this uh this vendor responded and um was awarded uh this contract based on a request for quote in 2024.

That is RFQ-45 ELC-34 in 2024.

Uh they were the lowest responsive um quote um and the original contract um from 2024 through 2025 was a not to exceed of uh 25,000.

Uh the amended term is from 2026 through 2027 with a not to exceed of 50,000, so an increase of 25,000 um on the previous amend the previous original agreement.

Um and that'll get us through 2027.

Any questions?

And this is the the increase in amount is based on we're moving to a new facility and a new much larger facility, and this is to cover the bases, correct?

At this point, the contract is related to the 3737 um address.

Um this vendor will need to provide us an a quote on um if their pricing would change at the new facility.

Um that is included in the contract as far as them being able to provide us that that new information.

So basically what we did here was um we we believe the cost is going to not exceed that 25,000, regardless of of where they are going to be providing the service.

And so we I do anticipate coming back to this board to amend this once we do move to include what the scope of work is at the new facility.

At that time, the not the not to exceed may also uh change, but we just don't have that information at this point.

We're gonna save so much money or freshener.

It's got a pay of the difference.

Yeah.

All right.

Um no other questions, vice chair.

No questions.

All right, I'll ask for a motion to approve memorandum number six.

I move approval of memorandum six for pristine image.

Second.

Okay.

Properly motion and second.

Call Rowe, Vice Chair.

Aye, Madam Clerk, okay.

And so the chair voting aye.

Okay.

I think that's all the contract approvals.

We've gone through the next thing on the agenda is uh ballot ratification.

Uh Director Becker, do you want to cover the update?

Thank you, Madam Chair.

So today marks 60 days from election day by by statute.

Our ballot is ratified today.

So there is no uh formal action or or vote of the board on that today.

But I do we do uh like to take the opportunity uh to speak about what the process entails and and update the board on on how things have gone.

Um so for this primary election, we had nearly 1200 candidates filed, um, which in recent memory is um far more than we've had um more than 2024, more than 2022.

Um we also had over a hundred candidate challenges that we had to adjudicate.

Um as a result, we have 1,252, so 1,252 unique ballot styles in Marion County for uh the primary election.

Um when I say ballot style, um, what I mean by that for for folks listening is that essentially ensures that the right the correct voters are voting on the correct um races.

So uh you may live in a in a place that uh your neighbor might even vote in a different um district where you would have different ballot styles because there's different people on your ballot.

Um the ballot building and proofing project is led by our staff member Chad Klingerman.

I wanted to uh give him some kudos for a really big undertaking.

Um staff um we had staff beginning uh proofing um obviously after our candidate challenge list, but our proofers started February 23rd, and I mentioned those come from office team.

Um, and they're a group of very dedicated people that have been doing this for a number of elections.

Um and they really are um they're catching all of the errors, right?

Um names misspelled, people in the wrong district, things like that.

We work with ESNS election systems and software to code the election at the direction of Chad.

So um what our ballot proofers are doing are informing uh what ESNS is doing when he's building when we're building the election.

Uh we do have available for folks that are here and we'll make available to anybody that requests uh we have a QR code.

If you'd like to scan, you can see all 1252 ballots.

Um it is the sixth um the sixth round of proofing.

Um so if you do um access that file, you'll see it says proof six.

That is essentially the sixth iteration of that ballot, and it is our final proof that we'll be using for this election.

Um so happy to answer uh any further questions, but just wanted to take the opportunity to uh applaud our staff on all of their hard work and also uh let folks know that we're we're ready to roll.

Um Madam Chair.

Um Director Becker, um, for the education of those here in the room and those watching, could you explain why how this is um so important and impactful because we are a vote center county and all those 1,256 ballot styles have to be accessible from anywhere?

Thank you, uh Madam Vice Chair.

Yes, so in a vote center county um you can go vote anywhere, and when you go to vote and you check into the poll book, um your um where you live, your your precinct, and then what what political party ballot you choose democratic or republican informs uh what what you're voting on for that election.

Um and so for us we have to be able to um have every ballot style available at all of our voting locations, um, and then we have to essentially we create um a matrix right of precincts and ballot styles.

So if you live in this precinct and you pick this party, you get this ballot style, and that is how we code our e-poll books so that when you sign that e-poll book and that barcode is printed on your ballot activation card, we know that it's the right ballot.

Um what happens in the next few weeks now with our staff is we will actually test every single ballot marking device, every single um tabulating device.

We'll also test every single um precinct and split and party combination that comes out of our e-poll book system to ensure that it's activating the correct ballot.

Um so our staff has a lot of work ahead of us, but now that we have a ballot ratified, um the real work begins for us to get things ready to roll for um early voting and for vote by mail.

Well, thank you and staff for all that hard work.

I know it's been I've spent a lot of time with with many of you going through at least the the Republican primary ballot.

So I appreciate your time and attention that you gave to my questions.

Hang on, you didn't go through ours.

Hang on you didn't go through ours I wouldn't know what would be correct.

Well we do and I there are a couple things um that I would like clarified for anyone who might be watching who is uh new to the elections scene um when you said uh barcode on the ballot we know what that means can you explain that that is not a voter identifiable mark on a ballot yeah that's correct thank you madam clerk the barcode that gets printed on your ballot activation card it is the the um it is a representation of what your ballot is digitally so a barcode um that gets printed on there makes when it's put into the uh ballot marking device the express vote it scans that barcode and it essentially pulls up that a blank ballot for that um on the screen each precinct and split and party unique combination has its own barcode so it is not unique to a voter it is unique to a ballot style that is based on the voter where they live and whether they pick a democratic or republican ballot at the at the sign in.

Sure because it would be crazy to have a voter identifiable mark on a ballot that would that would negate the secret ballot that we have enjoyed for 130 years.

So that that's it's just I think it's important to know and it's also important to note that on these ballots there are uncontested there will be no uncontested party races.

So somebody who filed for a precinct committee person or delegate for Republican or or the Democrats if if if they've already won they can take their victory lap but they will not see their name on the ballot.

That's correct.

Yes we're gonna hear about it I know we're gonna hear about it but uh that is something that is important to note because uh it's it's when you expect to see your name on the ballot you go to vote and hey wait a minute where is it so it's not there on purpose you've already won congratulations from us all thank you thank you and thank you for all the work chat kudos um I know the work is just starting but a lot of work completed as well all right the the next uh big topic uh on the agenda here is that go through the vote center plan uh and adoption I know we have some updates changes director becker you want to walk us through those thank you madam chair um so what you should have in front of you is um uh uh it's uh similar to what I sent out in an email to the board earlier about uh essentially the components of the vote center plan that are uh that change each election so you should have in there a narrative document that that goes through um sort of uh how we got to this point the history of the vote center uh you should also have in your packets a list of the the vote centers uh locations and address um a uh um a map um that I don't know how readable and helpful it is to have um and also in there um a description of the poll worker jobs that we have and and the pay um if I could I'll just give a a brief summary of the vote center plan and and um we can uh discuss as necessary um wanted to also um recognize Brent Stinson from our staff who leads this project for us and it started um in very early January um reaching out some might say bothering uh locations about um reminding them we have an election coming up and and we'd like to use your facility again um and also um Annie Schrader um in our office who um made a lot of phone calls and a lot of follow-up emails um to remind uh folks of what's going on so we have 182 election day uh vote center locations in the plan before you uh for the 2026 primary we had 186 in November of 2024 so we we really tried as hard as we could to get back to uh a number that we were at before um and I can go through some of the locations um that have have told us they're not available we did try to replace as many as we could um there are um you know a number of of locations that we are returning to um that had previously been uh locations but may have not in the most recent election so that's another thing that we'll try to do is if we have a previous relationship with those uh with those entities we will try to reach out to them I did want to highlight there are three uh notable um changes for satellite early voting locations and those are um pike library um that was under construction in 2020 uh four and um it is now not under construction and it looks fantastic we were out and uh the community room looks really really great so um we're very happy to be returning to Pike Library um on Zionsville Road as a result the performing arts center

Um I did want to highlight there are three uh notable um changes for satellite early voting locations.

And those are um Pike Library that was under construction in 2024, and um it is now not under construction and it looks fantastic.

We were out in uh the community room looks really really great.

So we're very happy to be returning to Pike Library on Zionsville Road.

Um as a result, the performing arts center at Pike High School who uh they stepped in for us on election day in 2024 because the library wasn't available, they're no longer going to be a location because Pike Library will also be an election day site.

Um out in Lawrence Township, we had the former administration building um soon to be Craig Academy is was under construction, and so um we are uh have an agreement with the Fort Bend Library on 56th Street Um to host us for um both the primary and the fall.

Um and um I think we'll have a um we'll have to do an evaluation over the summer.

Uh we believe that Craig Academy may be available again to us, but um you know we'll have to evaluate that um over uh over the summer.

Uh the admin building um that we were at was under construction pretty much throughout the building, so we did not think it was conducive for uh early voting.

And then uh in Wayne Township, we're back at Cranert Park.

Uh so we were formerly at Thatcher.

Uh Cranert was under construction in 2024 and their construction is completed, and so now we're back at at Cranert Park in Wayne Township.

Um and happy to answer any more questions that the board might have regarding the vote center plan.

Matthew Jared question.

Um Director Becker, um first of all, thank you and staff and and um uh um Brent, thank you for your your work and and due diligence, especially with with um my myself the last week or so trying to get some of these locations um finalized.

Um will can you director Baker can you explain a little bit about the communication that's going to happen?

We obviously had two elections in 2024 for the early voting for Pike Lawrence and Wayne at a different location.

Now we're moving it again.

Can you um uh share with with me um how communication is going to be shared about the change of locations?

Will we have signage at the old location saying that it's not there?

And then I maybe again sort of a general communication plan.

Yeah, so I believe um the answer is yes, we will have um signage.

Um we will be updating our vote.indy.gov website.

Um we could also put um specific alerts at the top of that page, right, to kind of highlight those as well.

Um the the one um you know, I think sort of um benefit perhaps is that um the the locations we were at in 2024 are also going to be uh election day locations.

So for example, in Pike Township, uh Global Village Marketplace will be an election day site.

That was our former um early voting site, so we do anticipate um having signage and working with those locations to be able to communicate to voters updates to those locations.

Um we're also um in the process of of getting um together our sort of marketing plan, so I think um those are other things that we can talk about with the board as far as uh what kind of advertisements and and communications we want to to go out.

Um but those are all in the works right now as well.

Great, thank you very much.

And one that is missing on here is the first friends meeting house where we had the incident of uh that was referred to the prosecutor's office uh in the last election.

Um can you say what happened with that?

I mean that what that would they were a great partner.

Yes, madam clerk.

We've I've been in communication with the staff there for um uh a good portion of 2025 and and into 2026 uh regarding their decision making process um that they were going through, and I think they were waiting uh to hear news, and I we I don't have uh any information about what the grand jury is doing.

So you know, uh the conversations with them got to the point where they were um unsure that they wanted to uh sign on at all for any future elections.

They've had a lot of internal meetings there to to try to figure out um are there steps that they can take as a location uh to feel better about um having voting there.

They've had a lot of internal meetings there to try to figure out um are there steps that they can take um as a location uh to feel better about um having voting there, and I just don't think that they got to a place as a as a group that they felt um comfortable opening their doors back up for for voting.

Um my understanding is that could change um you know from now to the fall, but they just weren't prepared at this time to um make that decision to have voting in their location.

Um Brad, do you know it's uh is that that was the poll worker protection bill that that we sent them, right?

Is that what it's called?

The poll worker protection act or bill.

I don't remember the number of the legislation that we referenced when we referred that to the prosecutor's office.

That's right.

So there is um a piece of legislation or you know, a statute that uh prevents um intimidation of poll workers and election workers and including election board members, that um makes it a uh crime where if you're intimidating them to the point of interfering with their functions as as election workers.

And our investigation of uh Mr.

Palombi's actions at first friends uh meeting house um found that you're you're you found that you believe that that's what it happened under that statute, and we referred it to the prosecutor's office for for the prosecutor to to pick up the mail and and continue that um and that appears to have um to have died there.

Okay.

Well, that's uh first friends, that was uh pretty high turnout location.

So but the good news uh there's always a ray of sunshine, right?

Uh well, maybe not always, but in this case, uh voters who were used to going to first friends uh can go to one of the any other 182 locations around the county.

And uh I see on this map that you provided that there are that there are some uh near nearby.

So and um Director Becker or um Brent, if you happen to have the occasion to speak with the leadership at First Friends again in the future, please thank them for their prior um partnership and service to to the election board.

Yeah, absolutely.

They they left a sliver for the fall uh sliver of hope.

So we'll see.

No other comments or questions.

Um do we need to take a vote to adopt the current votes that are planned?

Um Madam Chair, if you if you might um Director Becker, just so it's um in public record, would you like to um go through the poll worker description briefly as in and in particular um as we're trying to um recruit poll workers um for the the primary election they the the pay scale and the parameters around that?

Heck after the first friends is people gonna do well.

Yes, so we hope so um happy to read through this and and if the board would like I could also uh provide a um for the public record just the early voting uh satellite locations and hours if that would be helpful.

So um exhibit E of the vote center plan talks about the poll worker descriptions and and staffing levels.

Uh the inspector is the lead of the leader of the vote center.

The responsibilities include ensuring the polling location opens and closes on time, issues challenges, and oversees the accounting of ballots.

Um they should arrive at their location by 5 a.m.

to open the site with the help of the other poll workers by six.

Inspectors earn 240 dollars and are required to work the entire election day, attend training and pick up and drop off supplies.

Uh so there is uh prior training that's required and you do need to pick up supplies prior to election day and deliver supplies after election night or on election night.

Um the other uh position is clerk, clerks greet voters, operate the electronic poll books and initial ballots for voters.

Clerks uh should arrive at their locations by five to help setting it up and are expected to assist with ballot accounting after the polls close.

Uh clerks earn 150 dollars for a full work day on election day and 75 dollars for uh half day of work.

Uh one slight adjustment from previous is that a $30 uh dollar stipend is issued to any clerk that attends any in-person training conducted by the Marion County election board.

Uh the the change there is uh the training stipend used to be uh different based on the half day full day.

We've decided just to say come to training, you get the stipend, the full stipend, whether you work the half day or the full day.

But you have to work either half day or full day to get that to get the correct.

Yes, you do, and you need to sign the expense report.

A vote center uh will consist of uh at a minimum uh one inspector and one clerk of the opposite party.

Um then we sort of talk about scaling up.

Uh typically um in you know we would have I for let's say uh two check-in stations, right?

You would have um four clerks and one inspector, right, as at a minimum.

Uh so depending on how high the location uh how many people vote there that determines how many machines we deploy and our staffing levels are really based on uh machine deployment and and our e-poll book deployment.

Um that should cover the um poll worker description Madam Chair.

Um Director Becker, I know that there's been a lot of um requests over the years for poll worker training um to be available um online.

I think we did that during the COVID pandemic.

Um, but I know that there's great value in having in-person training, um, a lot of value of being able to actually physically touch the machines and understand the actual technology.

Is there anything you'd like to add around that?

I would just say we hear that feedback uh quite often.

Uh we have um previously, and I would say our are continually to continuing to explore what a virtual training environment might look like.

I will say administratively it it is difficult to uh stand something like that up.

There's also um things happening within the city-county um IT department that are that include some build out of some some training um environments that we might be able to leverage in the future um without having to go into a contract with another vendor.

Um but yes, we're actively exploring these.

Um we understand there's there's um you know uh you know a desire for this administratively it becomes difficult for us uh to build that, but then also to to monitor and and track who's gonna be attending that they've attended it properly, making sure there's uh retention of knowledge, right?

Some sort of knowledge check that they're they're actually retaining what they're what they're doing.

Uh and as you mentioned, there's really nothing that that beats uh a hands-on approach to understand how the poll book works, how the express vote works, uh, what the you know what the system looks like when it's all set up physically.

So I would say, yeah, we definitely hear those concerns, and it's something that we uh we take seriously and and we're looking at a good solution for it.

Great.

I know we're not the only jurisdiction that has our particular um makeup of uh election equipment, but it is somewhat complicated.

Um for our security, and then also having you know a paper ballot for backup rate that we we have a um a lot of steps.

Yeah, so thank you.

Well, when it's the best system in the state, yes, they agree.

Uh and also keep in mind that those uh those who come in, they they do touch the machines and they uh vote a sample ballot, but they also uh they have to sign paperwork.

And I don't, I mean, I stay away from that paperwork because it's you know tax related or payroll related, and uh it's best that I stay away from that.

But uh if people want to get paid, uh show up in person.

Right.

And if I could sometimes it's the only time that we're actually making you know uh personal contact with these folks a lot of our recruiting is done on the phone or through email, so it is usually the only time that we're actually getting to interact with these poll workers, and and that brings a lot of value to our staff as well.

If I want to sign up to be a poll worker, Director Becker, where do I go?

Poll worker.gov, thank you.

Thanks for the conversation and putting that out there.

I think we still need to take a motion to approve the um vote center plan.

I move adoption.

Second.

Okay, properly motion and second, vice chair.

Aye, madam clerk, aye, okay, and so the chair voting aye.

Nice.

That's one of the ones that has to be unanimous.

It does.

And I'm awfully glad that I want to thank staff for um working with me closely on on this this year.

Um you might remember it uh the primary of 2024.

Oh, I remember.

I had to take a pause.

Um, and I appreciated um the staff's hard work in 2024, and I appreciate where we are today.

So thank you very much.

Ren didn't have any gray hair at that time in 2024.

Neither did I all right.

The next thing on the um agenda here, um, Secretary of State investigative report.

Um, I think we may have an update from outside council on this today.

Yeah, thank you, madam chair.

So when we met um and talked about this last time, the um discussion was we had talked to you about the findings of um our investigation, myself and Mr.

Pullium had conducted that over several months to look into the fact that Secretary Morales had announced his campaign re-election uh with a video that included footage from him appearing at the election service center.

Um so showed him at the election service center, um, interacting with people that were um uh uh at Central Count and including uh staff workers of the election board.

Um and that struck everybody as as a bit um unusual, and so we um looked into that and the and the legality of that.

Um one of the things that we realized um fairly quickly was that because of his position as a state officer, that he is not um he's just not subject to the crimes that you find in Title III.

If he were um I think our investigation would find that um the series of events that led to this footage being captured and then ultimately ending up in that campaign video would fall under that Title III crime.

However, as a secretary, he's just not subject to that.

So we we got to thinking about that, and it turned out as we looked into it further, there is a almost completely analogous um uh provision in Title IV that says um the state inspector general and the state ethics commission can investigate the use like improper use of state resources for um political purposes, and state officers are subject to that.

Um it's not criminal in the same way that Title III is, but the state ethics commission has the ability to um hold state officers and other people, including um staff members in the secretary's office accountable uh for those actions should they come to that conclusion.

So we um came to you with the thought that that would be the appropriate response of this board to take those findings and refer it to the state inspector general for them to pursue that further along with the state ethics commission.

Um and but um in the name of due process, we wanted to provide notice to the secretary.

Um and uh Mr.

Pullium did that, so I'll let him talk to that and and the process that we went through, and then he can talk to maybe what our options are now that we're here.

Uh thank you.

Uh notice was provided uh to varying degrees uh, including emailing counsel who was uh involved in responding to our investigative requests at the attorney general's office.

We also emailed a copy of the notice to his chief of staff and sent a copy via FedEx to his office.

Uh we have not heard back in any substantive manner.

Um the notice was fairly robust, it included a full two-page summary of the investigation of our analysis and of the uh factual findings and provided him with the opportunity to contact us and suggest a different time uh if today was not uh agreeable to his schedule.

Uh we've we've heard nothing back.

Um you all have a copy of that notice.

Uh I didn't believe no one's heard back from his office.

Uh and so we are at a point now where without contact, uh, we believe we've satisfied our obligation to provide you know fair notice.

Uh and believe it is it is time now to proceed and uh with with next steps.

Thank you.

Any questions from the board?

Yeah, this we talked about this at our last meeting.

Is it was our last meeting or one before?

Yes, two weeks ago.

And so that was the work we it was it was an extra chance for Secretary Morales to respond to there were multiple requests for him to address this.

Yeah, so during the investigation, we politely asked to have an interview with him, and that was denied.

Uh, because he is a state officer, we can't use the board's subpoena power to compel his testimony.

Um we we asked nicely and and that was not agreed to.

Uh you know, this notice was a second attempt really to give uh his office him an opportunity to respond to our findings, and uh we have not had anything uh back from his office.

Well, I certainly don't have a problem with uh robust campaigning.

I do have a problem with robust campaigning on the taxpayers dime.

And uh our the first thing we did when we found out was we simply asked politely, thanks to you, uh, for him to take down this video.

That's all we want.

Take it down, and it has led to this.

So I we can certainly discuss this, but uh after having read this, I'm ready to uh make a motion.

Questions?

Oh, I have no questions.

Okay.

Uh I move that we forward this uh information to the inspector general.

That that is correct, not the attorney general, because you know it that is correct, it's the office of the inspector general for the state of Indiana.

And that is an independent.

Is that's is that someone who are they appointed by the governor?

I believe so.

Okay.

Uh I move that we forward this to the uh Inspector General and uh the ethics commission and any other commission you could think so uh they can address this because this is wrong.

Second uh properly motion and second.

I'll call Rowe, Vice Chair.

Um may I explain my vote?

Yes.

Um I'm going to vote in favor of this because after the due diligence that um outside council has conducted and the information that I have before me, I believe that Title IV was violated.

Um so I um this is this is not this is not politics, this is not personal.

I believe a law was violated.

I vote aye.

Okay, Madam Clerk, yeah.

Uh and show the chair voting aye.

So I believe the next steps is the council you will submit this to any and every inspector general.

We'll we'll we'll submit it to the state inspector general's office, and if there are other entities this could go to, we will uh consider that.

Okay.

Are there other considerations?

And I mean, I'm not sure when we'll hear back from the state and uh inspector general.

Are there any other considerations we should think about or discuss as far as ensuring that this doesn't happen again as we're going into elections here soon?

The the board has you know discretion over your facilities and how you you know protect those um locations and your staff and your poll workers.

So this will get referred.

There'll be a process, presumably, that the that the um that the state folks will will go through.

Um pending that process, you know, you I yeah, you may want to see how that goes before you uh do anything definitive.

One option you may have is that you know you may say, well, while this plays out, um anyone that we suspect has been in violation of doing this, you know, we would we don't want you to be in in these settings.

That would be that would be one consideration that you that you may that you may consider.

Not grant access, you mean to uh the service centers uh area where any ballots are in this case the secretary was there and brought you know cameras and staff and microphones and the whole thing to you know use that um setting to capture that film that he later used.

So yes, if you if I think if I'm understanding the chair's question correctly, one option you could have was to say, Mr.

Secretary, we're not going to grant any access pending the results that may come from the state.

That's an option that you could have.

Um because he he's only allowed the access because he's given a credential from the board and then invited in.

Could he be credential from anyone else to sort of if if we say you know, give it as non response?

It's I assume he doesn't think this is an issue.

Um and so if we don't give them a credential, could he get it from some other place that could override that?

If he wants to come and work as a um uh a counter at Central Count and obtain a um credential to to volunteer on election day, um I think you he would be more than welcome to participate in that.

Okay.

Well, I certainly can't imagine asking anyone to stay out of the public areas where where we have our where we conduct our meetings um, but as far as the warehouse, I um I would like to not grant access because I don't uh trust that he's not going to do the same thing, try to do the same thing again.

So I I is that a motion?

Is that something where we make a motion or just is a decision and um I the motion that you made and just adopted a second ago?

Did you find out you finalized that vote?

The to send it on.

That you know is in the course of this.

We're gonna send this procedure on the idea that you would do this.

You know, that's in your discretion.

You can do it if you want to if you want to formalize that, you want to take that vote, take that stand and take that vote.

You're welcome to do that.

That's also just I mean, I think a policy that you can just decide to do in the moment if you are asked for him to come.

You can you can wait to decide then, or you can you can put it on the books now.

I think it would show a lot of gall to show up again and to try to do this again.

I don't put it past him, so I would like to make a motion if that's all right with you.

Yeah, uh, I move to uh prohibit the Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales from uh coming to the election service center warehouse uh any non-public area uh in the 2026 elections.

Second properly motion and second it second.

Uh call roe, vice chair.

Aye, Madam Clerk, I okay, and show the chair voting aye.

Um believe that's the right thing to do for um everyone there as well.

Okay.

With that, um we'll go to Madam Clerk asks you for any updates to share with the public while we're here today.

Uh yeah, besides um, well, we made some decisions here.

Uh those are those are the updates that people can hit rewind and look at.

Um we are 14 days, we are two weeks from the first ballots being mailed.

Anyone who has requested an absentee ballot, uh that first round will go out on March 20th, and uh the team will uh mail them daily as we get the requests in and they are approved by the bipartisan teams, uh they they will go out.

Um for the long months, uh there there are 31 days left to register to vote.

The deadline is April 6th, and no, is that we're 30 days at 31 days from uh uh the vote center here at the city county building opening.

Um our satellite sites, the the re remember we have three new sites.

Um those open um even even seeing these numbers written down 50 days from now.

That's not even two months from now, and we're two months from election day and my sister's birthday.

I will remember this year.

Uh any voter who would like to confirm their voter registration can do that uh at Indiana Voters dot com, or they can call the Marion County Board of Voter Registration at 327 5040.

You guessed that the area code.

No, it's through and seven.

Um absentee ballot applications, uh voters have to request that.

So and you have to check a box on uh how to request or a reason to request an absentee ballot, uh, and that's voting by mail.

That's the one I'm talking about.

They can go to Indiana Voters.com.

They could go to Indiana Voters.in.gov.

It's it Indiana Voters.com takes them there, so that's all right.

Or they could call our office at 317 327 5100 to request that application be sent to them.

Uh that is something that voters can do online if they have an Indiana ID or driver's license.

Uh if they only have a passport, and that does happen, uh, they can uh fill fill out the form on paper.

Um poll workers.

You you heard it here earlier.

We need thousands of poll workers, and uh someone who is interested in in uh being part of their community and serving the uh as a poll worker or finding more information out about it can go to pollworker.indy.gov or 317 327 5100 because I'm sure there are thousands and thousands of people who are watching right now.

Well, actually, I'm sure there are a few people watching right now.

Uh and uh if somebody wants to work early voting, they should contact their political party.

So the Marion County Republican Party or the Marion County Democratic Party, uh, they're the ones who assign our uh early work early voter worker well, early voting workers, and uh we will have uh dates coming soon uh for the hours here at the city county at the early voting at the city county building.

Um the and just a little little slice of history for everyone.

Uh 169 years ago, the Dred Scott decision uh came down and it denied citizenship to uh black Americans and it kept Congress from restricting slavery.

Now I know it's women's history month and black history month was a few days ago, but the attacks that we have seen uh on voting and the the lack of civility that uh our country is experiencing now.

Um I think it's important to remind voters, non-voters, anyone who who might be paying attention that uh at least for this board, each and every vote, regardless of uh the color of the voter's skin or the accent uh in in the little of their language, um as long as they are registered.

We want you to come and vote, and uh this country is uh sort of at a crossroads, and um the attacks on voting are uh they're coming, but they are being denied even um even the redistricting fight that took place last year.

That was uh that was repelled by people who had a lot to lose, and um the uh the attempt to limit early voting uh across the state that uh that was also repelled.

There was an attempt to make it uh to change it from 28 days of early voting down to 16, and uh in my book that is a form of voter suppression, and I'm I'm certainly delighted that uh that amendment and the attending bill was defeated.

So uh and I'm also I'm happy that the legislators got to go home uh because they they probably have some campaigning to do and they have uh well there's there's no more uh attempts to suppress a vote.

So uh those are those are my updates.

Uh get out and get registered and double check your voter registration because uh if you changed your name, if you moved, if uh if something happened and there's a problem with it, if you take care of it now, uh it'll make voting all the faster on election day.

Perfect.

Thank you, Madam Clark.

Appreciate the comments.

Yeah, there are a lot of them.

Before I ask for a motion to adjourn, uh to start that the next scheduled meeting is the public test of the voting equipment.

So that will be April 3rd over at the election service center.

As Madam Clark reminded us, that's probably the last time at that location, right?

If we're if we're lucky, I guess.

But again, April 3rd, uh that Friday at the Election Service Center will be the next scheduled meeting.

I think that's Good Friday as well, so we'll hope for a good Friday on that one.

With that, we'll ask for a motion to adjourn here.

I vote.

Second.

Second.

So we are officially adjourned.

Thank you.