Monroe County Democratic Party

Last Wednesday, the Republican appointee to the Monroe County Election Board, Judith Smith-Ille, voted against creating satellite sites for early voting. Both Democratic Board member Jan Ellis and Republican County Clerk Jim Fielder voted for the measure, which needed unanimous approval to pass. The County Commissioners and County Council had previously authorized $12,000 in funds to pay for the satellite voting sites.

In the 2008 election, more than 4400 people in Monroe County voted early at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, at the Ellettsville fire station, and on the IU campus. A group of students from IU, led by Kelly Smith, made a factual and impassioned pitch to again have a satellite early voting center at IU. Other community members also made the case for the early voting sites, and a letter from County Commissioner Patrick Stoffers was read into the record:

Dear Election Board Members,

I respectfully request the election board to authorize satellite voting to take place during the fall election in Monroe County. Satellite voting was quite successful in 2008 with 4,486 voters participating at the three sites (Ellettsville 998, Campus 2,263, and Sherwood Oaks 1,225). Former election board member Jack Schmit (R) noted in his comments to Bethany Nolan of the Herald-Times (10/25/2008) "they’ve [satellite sites] done their job this cycle by drawing off voters to lessen the pressure at the polls on Election Day". I couldn't agree more.

As you know the Monroe County Council last night appropriated $12,000 for satellite voting purposes for this years election. And the commissioners are by this letter today publicly committing to making our TSD staff available to our election officials to facilitate satellite voting.

Historically, our county election board has found a way to collaborate and work together to put voters first in past election cycles. And I expect nothing less from our current election board.

But despite the overwhelming support of the crowd in attendance, satellite voting did not receive the unanimous consent it needed to move forward. GOP Board member Judith Smith-Ille told the standing-room-only crowd, "I don’t think there’s a lot of interest" in this election. Thanks to CATS, you can watch the entire Election Board meeting online, or download a video of the meeting. [Link] (CATS will also broadcast the meeting several times throughout the week.)

This fight is not over.

Please join us for a rally in support of satellite voting centers tomorrow - Monday - in the Courthouse Rotunda at 11:30am. Speakers will include elected officials, member(s) of the voting systems advisory council, and more. Topics will include satellite voting in Indiana election law, the Commissioners's and Council's request to the Election Board, and the impact of satellite voting in 2008.

The Election Board meets again on Monday, August 30, at 5:15pm in the Justice Building at 301 N College Ave - and satellite voting sites are again on the agenda.

For more information on the Election Board, including agendas and minutes of past meetings, see monroedems.org/electionboard