The Lake County Board of Elections and Registration has moved to consolidate precincts in response to a directive from the Indiana Secretary of State, Diego Morales. During a meeting held on July 30, 2023, the board unanimously approved 29 precinct consolidations to address splits created by Morales’ proposals affecting local governance structures. These splits involved county council, county commissioners, school, and city divisions.
Morales had previously notified Lake County in a letter sent in July, emphasizing that Indiana law requires the consolidation of precincts with fewer than 600 active voters following a presidential election. He requested that the election board submit a plan for precinct consolidations with unanimous board approval. In the absence of such agreement, individual members could propose their own plans.
In the board’s deliberations, five additional precinct consolidations received approval through a narrow 3-2 vote along party lines, with one further consolidation passing 3-1, which included one member’s abstention. According to Michelle Fajman, the Director of the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration, the board ultimately submitted two reports regarding the proposed precinct consolidations. One report was submitted by Fajman herself, representing the board’s collective decision, while the other was provided by Jessica Messler, the Republican assistant director.
Fajman clarified that the submission was not politically motivated, stating, “It was not a Democrat plan; it was a board looking at specific precincts that were under 600.” Messler added that her report documented public records of the precinct consolidations discussed during the meetings and was prepared at the request of the Republican members.
A change in precinct divisions could complicate voting procedures, particularly on Election Day, as poll workers would need to ensure the correct ballot encoders are used. Messler assured that voters would not notice any changes in procedure because the adjustments primarily affect internal administrative processes.
During the board’s meeting on October 21, 2023, Mike Mellon, a Republican board member, reiterated the minority party’s right to submit a separate report when votes are divided. “The minority party obviously has the right and the obligation to submit information when there’s a 3-2 vote against,” he stated.
The board has historically submitted a unified report. Fajman noted that the Secretary of State’s revisions to the precinct consolidations were largely in line with the board’s proposals but introduced eight changes that resulted in additional splits. Notably, these changes included merging Gary precincts that led to county council splits and East Chicago precincts that created school board divisions.
Fajman emphasized the importance of resolving precinct splits, explaining, “Splits can be very confusing. It’s confusing to voters. It’s confusing to candidates, as they walk a precinct trying to get materials out.”
The Secretary of State’s consolidated precinct adjustments became effective upon issuance, prompting the election board to vote 3-2 on October 21 to revert the changes back to the board-approved plan from July. The election division will now review the proposed consolidations for approval. Should the proposals be accepted, notices will be distributed to inform the public. If not, a hearing will be scheduled by the election division to address any concerns.
This ongoing process highlights the complexities associated with electoral organization and the efforts of local boards to comply with state regulations while ensuring clarity for voters and candidates alike.
