BEDFORD – On Tuesday morning, The Lawrence County Commissioners awarded James Wisley Contracting, LLC, the bid to improve the Courthouse Plaza Lawrence County Voter Registration office.
Clerk Amy Voorhies was awarded Federal Help America Vote Act money for local election improvement and security efforts. Among the projects approved for grant funding were election voting process and security improvements, poll worker training, and voter outreach and education initiatives.
Lawrence County was awarded $20,308.21.
James Wisley Contracting, LLC submitted the lowest bid of $9,625 to make some construction improvements.
The grant money will help streamline the 2024 Presidential Election in Lawrence County.
Projects to be completed include:
Community Outreach Booth: According to the 2007 Census for Lawrence County, we currently have 45,200 residents. Of those, 33,807 were registered voters, but only 11,627 participated in the last general election. We see the need for a constant presence in the community to help with voter outreach and education. Having a kit ready to set up at fairs, festivals, and expos would keep elections and the voter registration office front and center in the minds of our residents. This would also promote poll worker recruitment. Cost: $1,019.95.
Absentee Processing Equipment: Regular processing of absentee ballots and scanning voter registration forms are needed. Our one office clerk deputy is the only desk to process these forms. It would improve the workflow here in the office, especially during the 2024 Presidential Election, if we all had access to this equipment at our desks. If our clerk deputy is out of the office, we are either taking over her desk, which involves resigning from all of the programs, or moving equipment, which is difficult. Cost: $2,489.16.
Election Equipment Storage Necessity: As many know, Microvote storage containers are expanding to VVPATs. This expansion adds greatly to the storage area needed. After input from our election board, county commissioners, and a local contractor, it was agreed that improving our voting process through additional storage space, including the necessary shelving for the machines, is necessary. Cost: $12,800.
Processing Citizens in the Office: Steve Broniarczyk, Protective Security Advisor for the Indianapolis District CISA Region 5 Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, visited the office on October 4, 2023, and said a front counter is needed. Foot traffic in the voter registration office seems to be a security issue. He and local security officers have requested a counter be installed for security reasons. A local office supply store has supplied us with proposals for a counter to accommodate the recommendations. Cost: $3,800. The front door also needs to be replaced with a door with a window to allow the security team visual contact with employees inside the office. The cost: $200.
