Chesterton Tribune

 

 

South Porter County still without early voting site

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By JEFF SCHULTZ

Early voting in Porter County for the 2015 municipal primary elections is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, April 7, in Chesterton, Portage and Valparaiso, but not in the two southern municipalities of Kouts and Hebron.

At the County Election Board meeting Friday, Democratic member J.J. Stankiewicz suggested Hebron as a fourth early voting location, but neither Republican member Board President David Bengs nor County Clerk Karen Martin, also a Republican, called for or gave a second to the motion.

Bengs at the board’s previous meeting however had talked about having a south county location.

The board voted unanimously on the three same early voting locations the County has had since 2012, except there will be a switch of rooms inside the County Administration Building which serves as the Valparaiso location.

The County Election Board voted 3-0 Friday to move early voting to Room 309 on the upper level of the County Administration Building, going against the tradition of having it inside the Voters Registration office, which is on the lower floor.

Bengs said the County Commissioners gave their permission to use Room 309, which is next door to the Plan Commission office. It had been used as an office for the County Assessor but was vacated sometime last year.

Sitting in on the board’s meeting, County Democratic Party Chair Jeff Chidester asked, “Is there a reason why it’s moving out of Voters Registration Office, where it’s always been?”

“I don’t want it near Voters Registration. I don’t want those offices that close to the voters. I think that’s best,” Bengs said.

Last year, Bengs and Martin voted to move early voting to the Porter County Courthouse after Republicans raised concerns about having voting in the same office space with Voters Registration Democrat Director Kathy Kozuszek present, who then was the Democrat candidate for County Clerk.

Stankiewicz had hesitated on his vote for the room change, first wanting verification that the room met the requirements for early voting. A unanimous vote is required to establish an early voting center somewhere other than in the offices of the County Clerk.

The other locations approved are the north rotunda at the County’s North Complex in Portage and at Chesterton Town Hall.

Hours for early voting will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Voting will also take place on Saturday, May 3, at the same hours and locations.

The board also approved letting 16 and 17 year-olds with written permission from their schools to work the polls on Election Day -- Tuesday, May 5.

 

 

Posted 3/16/2015

 
 

 

 

 

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