Pulaski County Preparing for Vote Center Implementation in 2016

Pulaski County CourthouseThe Pulaski County Election Board has taken another step toward implementing its vote center plan, this time with the purchase of technology contracts.

During Monday night’s Pulaski County Commissioners meeting, Election Board members presented contracts for the purchase of equipment to be used on Election Day. Pulaski County this year is implementing a vote center model.

Election Board President Jon Frain says the contract signature is largely procedural.

“This was all budgeted and approved for by the council,” says Frain. “There’s no new money being ask for or anything like that from them. However, we are required to bring all of these contracts to the commissioners for signature.”

The contracts, however, were secondary to where voting will be taking place in the near future.

Pulaski County is now a vote center county. Part of that includes selecting a site for early voting. The Election Board has previously discussed using the Pulaski County Public library in Winamac as the early voting and absentee voting location.

The library, according to the discussion, will designate a room for the voting to take place and provide some security for the voting equipment. Frain says some expanded hours accompany the location.

“There are normal hours Monday through Wednesday,” says Frain. “Late lunch, instead of an hour closed for lunchtime, like a late 1:00, half hour lunch. Then we’re open late on Thursday into the evening and then on the two Saturday’s before, we’re going to be open pretty much all day.”

The Pulaski County Commissioners approved signing the equipment contracts, unanimously.

The Vote Center plan will be implemented during 2016’s elections.