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Record of Proceedings

Lake County Board of Elections Meeting - March 17, 2026

County Boards & Commissions — Tuesday, March 17, 2026
BodyLake County, Indiana
SessionCounty Boards & Commissions
DateTuesday, March 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:39:22

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:23

I guess it's good because sometimes it's crazy and I can't see that it runs off.

0:27

I mean sometimes it's on sometimes it's nice as well.

0:30

Joel is blacks out during the kids in Joe.

0:37

Okay, green and green.

0:38

You know what?

0:39

So we need to take the word that motion.

0:48

To oppose it, and then we make the motion to later reduce it in the interest of justice.

1:10

I think when I came in this morning, I was going to hit a brand new agenda.

1:15

I know it has to be unanimous.

1:17

Unless it's within two days in the regular place.

1:20

I mean, honestly, I don't I don't think any of this was on the agenda until this morning.

1:23

Oh really?

1:25

Not the one we had.

1:28

Let me look.

1:33

The one that was posted.

1:34

I don't think you see that one.

1:36

I just get I just look at the easy.

1:41

I think the one that was posted.

1:45

I mean, are those or wait where did you have a website?

1:49

Weird.

1:50

Those are probably from last name.

1:55

I've never seen the first time.

1:58

Yeah, these are from last week.

1:59

Sometimes they usually figure it out when they turn off the iPad.

2:04

Yeah, I think it's possible.

2:12

Yes, I can look at the channels.

2:19

Remind me to have to call the uh February.

2:22

I'm sorry, the Tuesday, March 17, 2026 meeting of the Lake County Board of Elections to order.

2:28

We get all please rise to the pledge of allegiance if you're able.

2:32

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States in America.

2:45

Thank you and welcome everyone.

2:47

I want to first uh make a special welcome to our newest board member, Ms.

2:52

Charlene Fox Egeman.

2:54

So welcome.

2:56

I just have one little preliminary statement, and I think I'm in the same shoes as a couple of the other attorneys on the board.

3:02

So all my legal analysis is going to be coming from Carly Brandenburg.

3:07

So any opinions I have on my own as a lead person and a member of the board forever moving forward.

3:20

I like telling I like telling my insurance carrier I'm not giving advice to non-clients.

3:33

Mark and your rear.

3:34

Present.

3:35

Mr.

3:36

Reed?

3:36

Here.

3:37

Charlene Foss Eggman?

3:39

Here.

3:39

And uh Chairman Smith.

3:41

I'm here.

3:42

We have uh we have five members present in person we go quorum.

3:45

Um the next matter of business according to the agenda uh is approval of the minutes.

3:52

Actually, I thought I saw the chairman here.

3:57

I want to make sure I recognize you before we get into our agenda.

4:00

If you'd like to state anything to the board, we're happy to have you and welcome as always.

4:05

Uh thank you to the board.

4:07

Thank you, Chairman.

4:08

Uh today I have a uh a plaque.

4:11

We don't do the gold watches for retirement, but um I'd like to call uh I didn't see him under the forward under the clock.

4:22

He was hiding.

4:23

I didn't want to make any eye contact with you.

4:27

So this is uh a plaque to show our gratitude to you for your 13 years.

4:33

Um I believe it was 13 years of service to the uh the folks at Lake County and to the the Board of Elections.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Election Procedures█████████████████████████████████████37%
Public Engagement████████████████████20%
Election Administration█████████████████17%
Campaign Finance███████████████15%
Procedural██████████10%
Pending Litigation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake County Board of Elections Meeting - March 17, 2026

The Lake County Board of Elections met on March 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the Commissioner's Courtroom in Crown Point, Indiana. The meeting included approval of previous minutes, several election complaints, polling location changes, campaign finance delinquencies, adoption of resolutions for the upcoming primary election, and updates on pending litigation. The board recognized retiring member Michael Mellon with a plaque for 13 years of service and welcomed new member Charlene Foss Eggman.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the February 24, 2026 meeting were approved by voice vote with one abstention.
  • Polling Location Changes: Approved changes for Highland 20 (from Meadows Park to United Church of Christ) and Lake Station 8 (to Community Presbyterian Church). The proposed change for St. John 4 was rescinded.
  • Campaign Finance – CFA 1 Reports: For candidates who appeared before the board (Alfredo Manchaka and Will Miller), the board imposed the statutory maximum fine of $20 and then immediately reduced it to $10 per candidate under the interest of justice provision. The motion carried unanimously.
  • Campaign Finance – Annual Reports: The board approved the staff-recommended fines for all delinquent annual reports as listed on the three-page report, subject to reductions for those present. The motion to impose maximum fines carried, followed by a unanimous reduction motion.
  • Movers Contract: Approved the contract for moving voting machines and ADA equipment for the primary election, with a note to review an outdated affirmative action clause in future contracts.
  • County Election Board Authorization: Approved state system updates and SVRS authorization (items 5.8A and 5.8B).
  • Purchase Orders: Approved purchase orders over $1,000.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Election Complaint 2025-16 – Barnhart v. Kouros: Susie Barnhart (complainant) and Anastasia Kouros (respondent) each testified. Barnhart alleged improper setup of polling equipment without bipartisan oversight, lack of notification, and unprofessional conduct. Kouros acknowledged she should have given more notice but stated she acted based on training. The board heard from both parties and from board counsel regarding Indiana Code sections 3-6-6-1 and 3-11-14-17.
  • Public Comment (General): Kathy Worley of Highland urged the board not to blame trainers for inspector performance, noting that training emphasizes calling procedures.

Discussion Items

  • Election Complaint 2025-16 – Barnhart v. Kouros: After deliberation, the board found the matter to be a training issue rather than a willful election law violation. A motion to dismiss the complaint passed 3-2 (Members Foss, Brown, Smith in favor; Reed and Candelaria Reardon opposed). The board acknowledged that while a technical violation may have occurred (setup without the assigned judge present), no punitive action was warranted.
  • Early Voting Sites (Resolution 2026-03): The board received late requests to change early voting locations in Wicker Park, Tri Creek, and St. John. After discussion, the board decided to maintain the existing early voting sites for the primary election and to consider the proposed changes for the general election. The resolution passed unanimously.
  • Student Poll Workers (Resolution 2026-02): The board approved the resolution allowing 16- and 17-year-old students to serve as poll workers, with an amendment to allow digital or in-person training as determined by the training coordinator.
  • Voter Registration Drive Memorandum: The board acknowledged a memorandum regarding a registration drive that turned in applications after the 10-day statutory window; it was noted for record-keeping purposes only.
  • Counsel Reports: Attorney Brandenburg reported that the Smith v. LCBER hearing is scheduled for March 19, and the Schmitt v. LCBER petition has been withdrawn.

Key Outcomes

  • Spangenburg v. Murphy (2026-0): Continued to a future date coordinated by the parties due to respondent's health issues.
  • Jarzombek v. Kil (2025-??): Continued to April 2026 at the request of the complainant.
  • Campaign Finance Delinquencies: Fines were imposed and then reduced as follows:
    • Annual reports: Most fines reduced to $10 per the staff recommendation, except for Joshua Dagnan, whose fine was reduced to $0 if he files campaign close-out paperwork by the end of the week (otherwise $100).
    • Resolutions 2026-01 (combined polling places), 2026-02 (student poll workers), 2026-03 (early voting), and 2026-04 (deputy election commissioners) all passed unanimously.
  • Movers Contract: Approved and recommended to the County Commissioners.
  • Next Meeting: Scheduled for March 31, 2026 at 10:00 AM in the Commissioner's Court, to include public testing of voting machines.
  • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 12:01 PM.

Meeting Transcript

I guess it's good because sometimes it's crazy and I can't see that it runs off. I mean sometimes it's on sometimes it's nice as well. Joel is blacks out during the kids in Joe. Okay, green and green. You know what? So we need to take the word that motion. To oppose it, and then we make the motion to later reduce it in the interest of justice. I think when I came in this morning, I was going to hit a brand new agenda. I know it has to be unanimous. Unless it's within two days in the regular place. I mean, honestly, I don't I don't think any of this was on the agenda until this morning. Oh really? Not the one we had. Let me look. The one that was posted. I don't think you see that one. I just get I just look at the easy. I think the one that was posted. I mean, are those or wait where did you have a website? Weird. Those are probably from last name. I've never seen the first time. Yeah, these are from last week. Sometimes they usually figure it out when they turn off the iPad. Yeah, I think it's possible. Yes, I can look at the channels. Remind me to have to call the uh February. I'm sorry, the Tuesday, March 17, 2026 meeting of the Lake County Board of Elections to order. We get all please rise to the pledge of allegiance if you're able. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States in America. Thank you and welcome everyone. I want to first uh make a special welcome to our newest board member, Ms. Charlene Fox Egeman. So welcome. I just have one little preliminary statement, and I think I'm in the same shoes as a couple of the other attorneys on the board. So all my legal analysis is going to be coming from Carly Brandenburg. So any opinions I have on my own as a lead person and a member of the board forever moving forward. I like telling I like telling my insurance carrier I'm not giving advice to non-clients. Mark and your rear. Present. Mr. Reed? Here. Charlene Foss Eggman? Here. And uh Chairman Smith. I'm here. We have uh we have five members present in person we go quorum. Um the next matter of business according to the agenda uh is approval of the minutes. Actually, I thought I saw the chairman here.

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