Elkhart County Live Meeting

The Elkhart County Election Board held a meeting on June 24, 2026, primarily focused on reviewing and discussing the proposed 2027 budget for the election board and updates on election software and hardware upgrades. The proposed budget totals approximately $784,200, slightly less than the 2023 budget, with specific increases in poll worker pay to address staffing challenges. The board emphasized the importance of accurate budgeting aligned with anticipated election needs, noting that the municipal election year will require fewer vote centers than a countywide election. Additionally, the board discussed plans to upgrade obsolete election tabulation equipment (from DS450 to DS950) to improve efficiency and reduce issues experienced during elections, such as ballot misfeeds and printing errors. The contract for this upgrade is pending final legal review and approval by the county commissioners. Public comments addressed concerns about vote center distribution and turnout-based municipal election funding, highlighting the need to consider voter convenience and equitable resource allocation. The meeting concluded with procedural approvals and adjournment.