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Record of Proceedings

Lake County Board of Elections Meeting – September 16, 2025

County Boards & Commissions — Tuesday, September 16, 2025
BodyLake County, Indiana
SessionCounty Boards & Commissions
DateTuesday, September 16, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 31:40

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

Ladies and gentlemen.

0:12

Can you see if we're reading that?

0:14

But you can pay.

0:15

You can get in the ring with hook.

0:18

You didn't look at how much everything costs.

0:20

I did I didn't what's your goal?

0:21

I know it's going to be heavy.

0:22

It's September 30th.

0:24

But I told her, I said, look, you guys figure it out.

0:27

Probably just a two-day.

0:28

How awesome.

0:40

Yeah, for eight amendments or just an LC spray.

0:43

Not a significant.

0:46

I don't think I need to go.

0:48

But she sprayed it with OC spray.

0:55

I mean, you should just take some stuff in your prison guard, right?

1:02

Oh mention and visitors bureau.

1:05

Jim, that's a mistake.

1:09

You're gonna hang out with Maloney and Quinnell.

1:13

Best of luck to you with those two.

1:15

I'm everyone else.

1:16

All right, good morning.

1:17

You think Reed and I are problematic.

1:20

I'm gonna call the Lake County Board of Elections and vote registration meeting to order today, September 16th.

1:27

If we could all please rise to the request.

1:30

I pledge a lead to just stand on individual with liberty and justice for all.

1:42

Thank you.

1:43

And welcome everyone.

1:44

Roll call, please.

1:46

Here.

1:46

Mike Millen.

1:47

I am present.

1:50

Present.

1:53

Present.

1:54

And Kevin Smith.

1:54

I am here.

1:55

We have a quorum.

1:56

All members are present in person or by proxy.

1:58

Next matter of business is approval of the minutes from August 19th.

2:01

I'll entertain a motion to approve those as presented.

2:04

So move.

2:09

So that's fine.

2:12

Hearing none of all is in favor, signify by saying aye.

2:15

Aye.

2:16

Motion carries.

2:27

Unless there's anything from the board member, we'll show those continued.

2:31

Alright.

2:32

Moving on to old business.

2:36

No new update, Jessica.

2:37

Is that right?

2:39

Yes, that one.

2:40

Okay, and then uh I believe election complaint tracker.

2:43

We do have an update.

2:44

Yes, it is complete.

2:46

So the um complaints from 2020 to today's complaints are in there.

2:53

They are digit are digitized so that they can be accessed.

2:57

Uh when we go back down to the office, I can show you, though, which is really not conducive way of doing that right now.

3:02

So if you guys want to see it, it's ready to go.

3:04

Great, thank you.

3:05

Uh any questions for uh Jessica regarding uh the election complaint tracker.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Election Procedures██████████████████████████████30%
Pending Litigation████████████████████████24%
Election Administration████████████████████20%
Procedural████████████12%
Public Finance Management████████8%
Technology and Innovation██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake County Board of Elections Meeting – September 16, 2025

The Lake County Board of Elections met on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the Commissioner's Courtroom in Crown Point, Indiana. All five board members were present. The meeting covered approval of prior minutes, updates on old business, a contested election complaint, a delinquent campaign finance report, mover contract bidding, and approval of new election management software.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes – The minutes from the August 19, 2025 board meeting were approved unanimously.

Old Business

  • Election Complaint Tracker – Jessica reported that the tracker is complete, with complaints from 2020 to present digitized and accessible. No board questions.
  • Secretary of State Small Precinct Consolidation Update – The board received a letter from Dustin Renner (Indiana Secretary of State Election Director) indicating multiple plans were submitted; the board's submission was noted as correctly filed. The Secretary of State is hiring a GIS specialist to review six plans, with a deadline of October 1, 2025. The board will monitor progress.

New Business

  • 2025-07 – Segert v. Flores (Election Complaint & Motion to Dismiss) – Attorney James Wieser (representing respondent Flores) argued the complaint fails to allege any election law violation (only a political sign on county property and possible traffic obstruction) and moved to dismiss. Complainant Segert requested to orally amend his complaint to add claims of missing disclaimer (“Committee to Elect” absent) and posting outside the 60-day campaign window. Board members discussed procedural handling. Segert stated he was not prepared to respond to the motion without legal counsel. The board set a briefing schedule: Segert must file a written response by October 15, 2025; Wieser may reply within 14 days thereafter. The matter will be heard on November 18, 2025. Wieser objected to the oral amendment, stating Segert was “coached.” The board declined to rule on the amendment request at this time, keeping it for the November hearing.
  • CFA Delinquent Finance Report (CTE Jennifer Williams) – Lori from the office reported that a 2025 audit of 2024 reports caught Jennifer Williams’ failure to file her 2024 annual report. Williams later filed and disbanded her committee. The board first imposed the statutory $1,000 fine (motion by Mellon, seconded by Reed) and then unanimously voted to waive the fine (motion by Mellon, seconded by Fetch), citing precedent and issues with notification and committee disbandment.
  • Request to Seek Bids – Mover Contract for Special General Election – The board approved proceeding to the county commissioners to seek bids for moving voting machines for the special general election involving Hanover and Lake Central school corporations. Three movers were listed; previously disqualified movers were not included. Next step: bids will be returned and awarded at the September 23 meeting.
  • Election Management Software – Next Generation Solutions – Michelle and Jessica presented a quote from Next Generation Solutions (in-house through Cenefacts) for $10,000 (Phase 1) for poll worker training, attendance tracking, texting, and future inventory options (Phase 2 up to $15,000). This saves over $20,000 compared to external vendors. The board approved the agreement with a 4-0 vote (Fetch abstained as he serves as county attorney for the Board of Commissioners). The implementation timeline (originally November 2025) will be adjusted due to the approval process, with a goal to be ready for the 2026 primary.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made. Public comment period was closed.

Key Outcomes

  • August 19, 2025 minutes approved unanimously.
  • Election complaint Segert v. Flores continued to November 18, 2025; briefing schedule set (Segert response due October 15, Flores reply due 14 days later).
  • CTE Jennifer Williams fined $1,000, then fine waived unanimously.
  • Mover contract bidding approved to go to county commissioners.
  • Election management software (Next Generation Solutions) approved 4-0 (one abstention); purchase order to be signed.
  • Next meeting scheduled for September 23, 2025 at 10:00 AM for board meeting, public test, and poll location matters.
  • Meeting adjourned at approximately 10:30 AM.

Meeting Transcript

Ladies and gentlemen. Can you see if we're reading that? But you can pay. You can get in the ring with hook. You didn't look at how much everything costs. I did I didn't what's your goal? I know it's going to be heavy. It's September 30th. But I told her, I said, look, you guys figure it out. Probably just a two-day. How awesome. Yeah, for eight amendments or just an LC spray. Not a significant. I don't think I need to go. But she sprayed it with OC spray. I mean, you should just take some stuff in your prison guard, right? Oh mention and visitors bureau. Jim, that's a mistake. You're gonna hang out with Maloney and Quinnell. Best of luck to you with those two. I'm everyone else. All right, good morning. You think Reed and I are problematic. I'm gonna call the Lake County Board of Elections and vote registration meeting to order today, September 16th. If we could all please rise to the request. I pledge a lead to just stand on individual with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And welcome everyone. Roll call, please. Here. Mike Millen. I am present. Present. Present. And Kevin Smith. I am here. We have a quorum. All members are present in person or by proxy. Next matter of business is approval of the minutes from August 19th. I'll entertain a motion to approve those as presented. So move. So that's fine. Hearing none of all is in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries. Unless there's anything from the board member, we'll show those continued. Alright. Moving on to old business. No new update, Jessica. Is that right?

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