A statement from the Monroe County Democratic Party on Satellite Voting in Monroe County
This past Wednesday, the Republican's appointed Monroe County Election Board member voted "nay", denying our community the unanimous vote needed to authorize satellite voting in Monroe County. Before the Election Board meeting, our elected County Council and Commissioners acted in the interest of our community, providing funding for 12 days of Satellite voting as sites to be determined by the Election Board. Democratic Election Board Member and Board President, Jan Ellis, proposed satellite voting at the same locations as last year: Ellettsville, on the IU Campus, and at Sherwood Oaks Church on the South side of Bloomington. She also supported the inclusion of a new satellite voting location in Smithville as well. A broad cross-section of our community attended the Election Board meeting to support
The most disheartening thing about this turn of events is this: in the past the Election Board has been able to reach reasonable compromises to allow projects like satellite voting to occur for the benefit of the community. The Republican Party doesn't seem to be interested in finding a reasonable middle ground anymore. This is a sad turn of events. If this stands, it will be harder for people to vote in our community than in 2008. And that is the wrong direction for our community and for our democracy.
In past years we have been a leading community in Indiana in improving access to the polls through cooperation and compromise on our Election Board. The loss of satellite sites for Elletsville, IU Campus, Sherwood Oaks Christian Church and Smithville is a sad outcome, one we hope to correct at the Election Board meeting on Monday.
This is a significant issue and we will do everything we can to see that voting is as accessible as it possibly can be for every voter in our community. The Election Board will revisit this issue at their next Election Board Meeting at 5:15 p.m. Monday Aug. 30 in the Justice Building, 301 N. College.
Rick Dietz, Chair
Monroe County Democratic Party
chair@monroedems.org