3-21-13 News Release-Vote Centers

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q[3 TH Citv of Nouth Bend l r Common Council 1as5 441 County-City Building • 227W.Jefferson Blvd (574) 235-9321 South Bend,Indiana 46601-1830 Fax (574) 235-9173 April 23, 2012 http://www.southbendin.gov Derek D. Dieter President Commissioner Andrew Kostielney, President Oliver J. Davis Board of Commissioners of SL Joseph County Vice-President 7th Floor County-City Building South Bend, Indiana 46601 Karen L. White Chairperson, Committee Mr. Rafael Morton, County Council President of the Whole St. Joseph County Council Tim Scott 4th Floor County-City Building First District South Bend, Indiana 46601 Henry Davis, Jr. Re: Vote Centers Second District Dear President Kostielney and President Morton: Valerie Scbey Third District Recently, it was reported by the news media that the current 220 polling Fred Ferlic places in St. Joseph County may be reduced to a total 25 vote centers. The Fourth District news media also reported that the Board of County Commissioners welcomed input on this proposal. David Varner Fifth District As you are well aware, the City of South Bend typically budgets over a two-year period the required monies to cover the election costs involved Oliver J. Davis with city elections. Such costs are typically calculated by the County Sixtb District Auditor and then sent to the City Controller who then includes the appropriate line-item in the city budgets. Although there are studies which At Large e Derek Dieter show that vote centers may help control local government costs, the overall impact on voter turnout may also a valid criteria which should be Gavin Ferlic further studied. At Large The undersigned members of the South Bend Common Council believe Karen L. White that a broad-based Study Committee which includes a representative of At Large our Common Council, should be appointed to carefully study whether a vote center concept would be appropriate in St. Joseph County. We have had the opportunity to review many of the items posted on the Indiana Secretary of State's website on Vote Centers, which are available online at: www.votecenters.IN.gov. The 7-step process which is outlined on that website which includes a study committee as well as a proposed plan, we believe would be a good way to gather input from residents of St. Joseph County.