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Vote centers a dead issue for Goshen referendum» Goshen Nevus, Goshen, IN Page 1 of 2 <br /> Goshen News, Goshen, IN <br /> February 27, 2013 <br /> Vote centers a dead issue for Goshen referendum <br /> By SCOTT WIEISSEA <br /> THE GOSHEN NEWS <br /> GOSHEN—State- and local-level funding issues have stalled a trial run of the vote center program in <br /> Elkhart County. <br /> Circuit Court Clerk Wendy Hudson has been touting the effort that was enabled through state legislation <br /> signed in 2011. Under the program, traditional polling places would be replaced with vote centers spread <br /> throughout the county.Voters would be able to vote where they choose,regardless of the precinct in <br /> which they live. <br /> The program was set to be tested locally this fall during a referendum on the proposed community center <br /> in Goshen. That plan has gone awry. <br /> Hudson wanted to use the vote centers in the referendum as a test to get the program ready for 2014. <br /> However, she said Tuesday that while Elkhart County Commissioners and Council members support the <br /> idea, they can't back funding to implement it for 2014. <br /> The other fiscal roadblock involves V-STOP (voting system technical oversight program). Hudson <br /> indicated the state funding for V-STOP—a required program for vendors to certify their voting <br /> equipment—is gone. <br /> According to Hudson, this creates a roadblock for Elkhart County officials to purchase new equipment <br /> of any type. She also said no one at the state level is quite sure how vendors are going to recertify their <br /> existing equipment or certify new equipment. <br /> Hudson said she and the County Commissioners feel it will be in the best interests of voters not to use <br /> the vote centers this fall. She feels having the vote center model for the special election and then <br /> switching back to precinct-style voting will confuse voters. <br /> Nonetheless, Hudson would like to see vote centers in Elkhart County at some point. <br /> "We'll keep developing it, and talking about it...," she said Tuesday. "I'm hopeful at some point we can <br /> move toward vote centers." <br /> Hudson indicated local elections will be conducted with the county's existing voting equipment. <br /> The funding issues will impact the referendum for the proposed community center this fall, said Goshen <br /> http://goshennews.com/breakingnews/xS 64663 812/Vote-centers-a-dead-issue-for-Goshen-... 3/21/2013 <br />