Note: The transcript date is Thursday, May 14, 2026, but the user-provided date is May 15, 2026. This summary uses the user-provided date.
The meeting was called to order at 11:45 AM. All board members were present: Ms. Here, Mr. Reed, Ms. Rear, and Kevin Smith (Clerk Brown). A quorum was established. The board approved the minutes from the April 21, 2026 meeting unanimously.
Staff presented 22 provisional ballots (IDs 1–22) with a potential 23rd. The board reviewed them in groups and voted on each recommendation.
Staff presented emergency ballots from Cedar Lake due to a power failure. All ballots were accounted for and recommended to be counted. Motion to approve all emergency ballots passed unanimously. Board members commended staff and poll workers for handling the situation well.
Staff reviewed 36 mismatched signature ballots and 7 missing signature ballots.
Staff presented a reconciliation report comparing voter counts to EMS public count. The report showed discrepancies, mainly due to the power outage and encoder issues. Staff noted that a 51-vote discrepancy at one precinct was actually a zero when accounting for paper sign-in sheets used due to encoder failure. The board accepted the report unanimously.
Board members raised concerns about travel board applications for a convalescent home. At a previous meeting, the board had directed staff to correct improperly filled forms. However, despite staff providing sticky notes and instructions, the returned forms were still incomplete or worse. Board members expressed frustration, noting that they do not want to disenfranchise voters but must follow the law. They emphasized the need for better training for travel board workers, especially with the general election approaching. Staff acknowledged the issue and promised to improve training and outreach.
I'm going to call the uh Thursday, May 14th, 2026, Lake County Board of Electrons and Registration Board leading to order. If we can please all stand for the clearance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it says one nation under a guy indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you and welcome everyone. Present. Ms. Here. Mr. Reed? Here. Can we rear? Here. And Kevin Smith. I am here. We are all present. All board members are present in person. We do have a quorum. Next order assist is the approval of the 421 264 minutes. I'll entertain a motion to approve those as presented. Most things to approve, Mr. Chair. Second. Second. Second by Mr. Reed to approve the board meeting minutes at 421 as presented. Is there any discussion on that motion? Okay. Hearing none of those in favor, do you know how we say aye? Aye and opposed. Motion carries. I don't show any old business. Um down. Is there any old business? Hearing none. Moving down a new business. Uh first item of new business is item 5.1, which is provisional ballots on election day. Each board member should have a uh eight and a half by 11 landscape printed sheet entitled provisional ballot hearing 514 2026. Um it's we have IDs one through 22. I understand from Jessica that we may have a 23, but we'll get to that point when we get to it. Um, and I believe uh uh Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Aguilar will be uh helping us along. Is that fair? Yes. All right. So um Jerry, if you'd like, I understand that you'd like you have these in groups. So the first group is ID number one through six. Um go ahead and address these ballots, please. Um the voter lost her ABS mail ballot, came into the uh precinct, and instead of give it being given a free five form, she was given a provisional ballot form. Um the record shows that uh the ballot was not turned in and we did not receive it.