MIAMI COUNTY — The Miami County Board of Elections approved a write-in candidate for Troy City Council on Tuesday.
Troy resident Jeffrey Whidden was approved as a write-in candidate for the First Ward of the city of Troy’s council.
The city’s First Ward did not have anyone file for the council seat. Current First Ward representative Zach Allen did not refile for another term on council. Previously Allen said his company’s growth and his future residency were the reasons he didn’t commit to running for a second term for the First Ward seat.
The board also approved to contract with Oregon Printing of Dayton for its ballots for the May 4 primary. Director Laura Bruns said several other counties have used the vendor for their ballots and came highly recommended. For the May 4 Primary, the vendor will charge 18 cents per ballot. Bruns said the board of elections chose to use 35 percent of total registered voters for the number of ballots to be printed, which is 26,525 ballots for a total cost of $5,072.68.
The board also approved staff’s first aid and CPR training expenses, which will use its Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grant funds. Bruns said they are continuing to seek an accessibility counter for handicapped voters in the office using the HAVA grant funds that remain.
The poll worker training list and class schedule were also approved. Bruns said there are 244 people on the list and due to the small primary, not as many poll workers will be needed at each precinct.
The board also approved to hold early voting at the board of elections office in the Miami County Courthouse. Due to security and to avoid voter disenfranchisement, more information regarding voters seeking to bypass the security to early vote was discussed. More information will be provided at a future meeting.
Prior to the meeting, the board of elections met in executive session to discuss pending litigation.
• Voter registration deadline for the May 4 primary is April 5. The board of elections office will be open on that date until 9 p.m.
• Early voting begins on April 6. Voters can participate in early voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Tuesday, April 6 during regular board of elections hours through April 23. From Monday, April 26, early voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, May 2 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, May 3 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• The polls open for the May 4 primary at 6:30 a.m. through 7:30 p.m.
• Absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than May 3 and received by the board no later than May 14. Absentee ballots returned to the board of elections — by hand or the drop box located in the courthouse plaza — must be received by the close of the polls at 7:30 p.m. May 4.
