Marion County Election Board Meeting: August 28, 2026

The Marion County Election Board met on August 28, 2026, in the Public Assembly Room at the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington Street, Indianapolis. The agenda called for a 2:00 PM start; the board was called to order at approximately 2:06 PM. Chair Nolita Stewart presided, with Vice Chair Jennifer Ping and Secretary Kate Sweeney Bell present, joined by election staff and counsel. The board approved prior minutes, acted on primary election complaints, authorized an ES&S voting-system contract negotiation, tabled a new e-poll book vendor decision, and approved a Town of Clermont ballot resolution. Note: The raw transcript audio refers to August 26, but the agenda and the supplied meeting date are August 28, 2026; this summary uses August 28, 2026.

Approval of Minutes

• The board unanimously approved the minutes of the August 10, 2026 meeting (3-0).

2026 Primary Election Complaints

• Director Becker presented a spreadsheet of 15 complaints (2026-1 through 2026-15) received from the 2026 primary election season.
• Staff and legal counsel reviewed all complaints; staff notes recommended dismissal, with some complaints already addressed in real time (e.g., electioneering at early-voting sites).
• Secretary Bell and the election attorney were sent to one early-voting site during the primary to address electioneering issues.
• Board dismissed complaints 2026-1 through 2026-14 by unanimous vote (3-0).
• Board dismissed complaint 2026-15 by a 2-0 vote, with Secretary Bell abstaining.
• Director Becker noted complaint filers have been notified; the board action starts a 30-day judicial-review/appeal clock.

ES&S Contract Approval

• Under Memorandum No. 18, the board authorized the director to continue to negotiate and enter into a new agreement with ES&S (Election Systems & Software) for voting-system procurement, software licensing, maintenance, and election support.
• ES&S has been under contract with Marion County since 2016.
• The upgraded voting system is expected to cost approximately $14.5 million. The Admin & Finance Committee approved an initial $4 million down payment on August 18, 2026; that amount still needs full City-County Council approval. Funding for the remainder is being developed with the Office of Finance and Management and City-County Council leadership.
• The proposed contract is for a five-year term, January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2031, with a not-to-exceed amount of $17 million, including the $14.5 million initial procurement and ongoing licensing, maintenance, and support.
• The City of Indianapolis Information Technology Board approved a resolution for the same term and amount on August 25, 2026.
• The current ES&S contract runs through the end of 2026 and covers the county's existing ExpressVote 2.0 devices, DS200s, and DS-850 high-speed tabulators.
• The board approved the memorandum unanimously (3-0).

10x Software Solutions (Tabled)

• Memorandum No. 19 requested approval to execute an agreement with 10x Software Solutions Inc. for electronic poll book support under RFP-45ELC-37.
• The RFP was published in August 2025 with the Office of Finance and Management purchasing division. Delays included a scoring committee member's personal issue; the member was ultimately removed.
• The scoring committee included election board management, an ISA security team member, and an active poll worker; more than 20 staff and poll workers participated in demonstrations and provided feedback.
• The two vendors within budget were 10x Software Solutions and KnowInk LLC. The scoring committee selected 10x.
• The proposed agreement is for five years with a not-to-exceed amount of $1.625 million; some proposed optional costs may not be used.
• 10x is new to Indiana but operates in 25 states and has done e-poll books in Ohio since 2015. It has committed to a dedicated Indiana support team and quoted optional election-day support for up to three people for up to three days.
• Director Becker stated that 10x and KnowInk both confirmed they could fully deploy by September 21, 2026 if a decision was made by the end of August; 10x has assured the county it can ship, install, and deploy before that date.
• Board members asked about training and support; the Director described plans for poll-worker office hours, one-on-one training, updated Channel 16 training videos, and vendor-provided materials.
• Secretary Bell expressed concern about being the first Indiana county with 10x, the tight timeline, the new election operations center, unanticipated staffing changes, and the upcoming general election. She moved to table the approval until a future meeting.
• The motion to table carried unanimously (3-0). Director Becker was asked to check whether KnowInk, whose contract has expired but which helped the county through the primary, could extend its current arrangement through the general election if needed.

Town of Clermont Resolution

• Under Resolution 5-26, the board used authority in Indiana Code 3-10-6-7.5 to place only contested municipal general elections on the ballot.
• The Town of Clermont (also rendered Claremont in the transcript) has a vote-for-three office/race with only one candidate filed for the fall 2026 election.
• Removing that office from the ballot eliminates three ballot styles.
• The resolution expires by law on January 1, 2027.
• The board approved the resolution unanimously (3-0) and congratulated the sole candidate.

Other Business and Election Updates

• Ballot proofing is underway: the third ballot proof was sent out before noon on August 28 to political parties and school corporations. Edits are due September 3, 2026; ballot ratification is scheduled for September 4, 2026. An outstanding judicial review question may affect ballot content.
• The new Election Operations Center move was completed in late June. Network installation was expected to be completed August 28, security cameras are being updated, and 24-hour security began August 24 and runs through the end of November.
• Preventive maintenance is underway on more than 2,400 pieces of equipment, with a target completion date of September 4, 2026.
• On September 7, 2026, the county will begin testing the vote-by-mail system and creating memory sticks for voting machines.
• On September 14, 2026, logic and accuracy testing begins at the new operations center, and seasonal election workers start.
• The vote center plan is being reviewed: more than 150 sites have responded about flood damage or other availability issues; Rocky Ripple Town Hall is the only questionable location. Staff expects to present the vote center plan for board approval on September 11, 2026.
• The Clerk reminded voters that absentee ballots must be returned by 6:00 PM on Election Day; late ballots cannot be counted. The county is considering extended in-person hours at the City-County Building to accept hand-delivered absentee ballots.
• Early voting will open at the City-County Building on October 6, 2026; additional locations will open after the vote center plan is approved.
• The Clerk also reported a Perry Township request to move its early vote center because of limited space.
• Poll workers and seasonal workers are still needed; applications are available through MCEB.gov and political parties.

Key Outcomes

• Approved August 10, 2026 meeting minutes (3-0).
• Dismissed 2026 primary election complaints 2026-1 through 2026-14 (3-0) and 2026-15 (2-0-1, Secretary Bell abstaining).
• Approved ES&S contract authorization for up to $17 million over five years, subject to remaining City-County Council funding approvals (3-0).
• Tabled 10x Software Solutions e-poll book approval until a future meeting (3-0); staff to follow up with KnowInk on an extension through the general election if needed.
• Approved Town of Clermont Resolution 5-26 (3-0).
• Next scheduled meeting: Friday, September 4, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the T-260 Conference Room at the City-County Building, for ballot ratification.