The Move to Vote Centers

Josh Lowry
Sep 11
4 min read

Updated: Sep 13

The Hamilton County Election Board has put forward a proposal to use vote centers rather than precinct-based polling locations on Election Day. I attended the public meeting in which the proposal was discussed, and I wanted to provide you with some additional context.

Meet our Hamilton County Election Board

The Election Board consists of three members: the elected Clerk (Kathy Kreag Williams), an appointee of the Hamilton County Republicans (Ray Adler), and an appointee of the Hamilton County Democrats (Greg Purvis). The move to vote centers would require a unanimous vote of the Election Board.

The problems faced in HamCo on Election Day

Currently, to vote in person on Election Day in Hamilton County, you have to go to the assigned polling location for your precinct. With vote centers, a Hamilton County voter would be able to vote in person on Election Day at any polling place in Hamilton County.

We are not being used as an experiment: 67 counties in Indiana already use vote centers. Here are the benefits I see:

This will increase the number of opportunities to vote.

The vote center plan would require a minimum of 10 voting machines at each vote center.
In 2024, there were 111 polling locations. With this new plan, there would be 52 vote centers (that is still nearly double what is required by law for HamCo’s population). Yes, there will be fewer polling locations, but registered voters will have access to all locations across the county.
An important key number is the number of voting machines. Voters cast their vote at a voting machine. In 2024, some polling locations had as few as two voting machines. This means that there would be more total voting machines in Hamilton County under the vote center plan.

It helps working Hoosiers.

Further, I think this is a massive help for voters who must work on Election Day and/or have limited flexibility at their job.
Although remote work has grown in recent years, many Hoosiers still have set hours during which they must be present. Those Hoosiers should have just as much of a chance to vote as someone who is retired or owns their own business.

It can shorten lines.

Currently, if you go to your assigned polling location and there is a long line, you have no alternative but to wait.
With vote centers, voters could see the long lines and instead go to a different vote center with a shorter line.
The Clerk mentioned that they are looking into technology to allow voters to see where the lines are shorter.

Under the new plan, the church where Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith is the campus pastor would no longer be a polling site. Voters are promised a nonpartisan voting location without outside influence. I do not believe that can be achieved with Micah’s name and photograph plastered all over the building. That being said, every effort needs to be made to ensure there is no room for voter interference.

Our concerns were addressed

I attended the public hearing and have reviewed the proposal. I am in favor of the proposal generally, but I do have one concern. The current proposal allows the number of voting machines, poll workers, and pollbooks to be altered up through the day of the election by the Clerk and the Election Administrator (Beth Sheller). The purpose is to allow the Clerk and the Election Administrator to adjust for busier vote centers.

I have no concern about Clerk Williams or Administrator Sheller running a fair and competent election. However, I want to make sure that we have a safeguard in case a future Clerk or Elections Administrator is partisan or dishonest. Therefore, I have asked that any change in the number of voting machines, poll workers, or pollbooks require unanimous approval of the Elections Board. That way, we will always have a Democrat on the Board with veto power. Clerk Williams agreed to make that change in the proposal.

In summary, I see many positives with this proposal, and I am inclined to support it. I see multiple benefits that will increase voter turnout:

Each vote center will have more machines than in the last election —meaning the busiest voting locations will have shorter lines and improve access.
It allows voters to vote at the vote center that is most convenient, which is especially important for working Hoosiers.
It erases the problem of voters showing up at the wrong polling location after an error, a move, or a polling location change (yes, this happens often).

There are two pieces of information that you can download here.

The draft of the Vote Center Plan.
The 2024 General Election Turnout Report for Hamilton County. You will notice a massive disparity between the number of registered voters assigned to particular polling locations under the current plan. That is why some people walked right in to vote, while others waited in lines for over an hour. The vote center plan would eliminate this obstacle.

The next election board meeting is on September 18. If you wish to submit feedback on behalf of yourself, Hamilton County residents may submit letters of input through September 13 or email Williams at Kathy.Williams@hamiltoncounty.in.gov.

However, if you would like to provide me feedback or have input on the HamCo Dems' official position, please email me at chair@hamcodemin.org by September 14.

Again, my current position is that I am in favor of moving to the vote centers, provided that the plan is amended to require unanimous approval of the Election Board for any changes to locations, poll workers, and voting machines. However, as I often say, I do not have a monopoly on good ideas. I am open to your concerns or feedback.