INDIANAPOLIS ( MIRROR INDY ) — Leaders of both political parties say they’ve tried to alleviate the long lines that Marion County residents are forced to endure during early voting.
But they’ve disagreed on the approaches in recent years — meaning no changes can be implemented until both Democrats and Republicans reach agreement.
That’s because amending the county’s vote center plan requires a unanimous vote by the Marion County Election Board, which consists of the clerk and two members appointed by the clerk, one from each major political party.
Historically, the Republican member of the board has been unsupportive of additional early vote sites, said Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell, a Democrat who formerly chaired the local Democratic party.
“I think it’s important that the minority party, in this instance, that they have a voice,” she said. “But that they have this much control?”
In October, the board’s Republican member, Jennifer Ping, blocked an effort by other members of the board to expand hours at early voting locations in the days leading up to Election Day.