Beacon Apr 2024

Page 6A THE BEACON April 2024
Security and Accuracy Abound in Southeast Indiana Elections
Continued from page 1A
that not voting contributes to
the outcomes of those issues
as well. Consequently, not
voting voids the privilege
of complaining about the
outcomes.
When it comes to casting
meaningful votes and being a
role model citizen, three basic
steps are in play. One, Register
to Vote! Two, DO YOUR
HOMEWORK! Three, Vote!
In Indiana, the website of
Indiana Voters.IN.Gov has a
wealth of information that is
easy to read and very informative.
This site provides
Hoosiers with the opportunity
to register to vote online,
validate their voter registration
status, find their polling
place location, look into their
provisional ballot status, find
county contact information,
and determine “Who’s on
My Ballot?” for an upcoming
election. Do you prefer to talk
with someone to get information
about voting? In Dearborn
County, call 812-537-
8867 for guidance. In Ripley
County, call 812-689-4783.
Don’t delay registering to
vote. Everyone must abide
by the deadlines and requirements
without exception.
If you are concerned about
being able to vote at a voting
site, opportunities are available
for absentee ballots and
mail-in ballots. A voter can
request a visit from a Travel-
Board that sends a bipartisan
team to you to collect your
vote. Everyone needs a stateissued
photo ID when placing
a vote, regardless of where or
how you submit it.
Some people want to be
much more involved than
others when deciding issues
that affect our communities
and our lives. People who
choose to be candidates to
make a difference in the lives
of their neighbors and families
must meet basic requirements
like age, citizenship,
and residency. State laws are
in place with conditions for
affirming their party affiliation.
Candidates must also file
financial disclosure forms,
and in some cases, submit
signed petitions. These candidates
need an understanding
of the issues that will come
before them. They also need
a group of supporters who are
willing to campaign for them,
raise money, and get others to
vote for them. Like most jobs,
having some experience is
helpful. Qualities like diplomacy,
cooperation, and communication
skills are also key.
And of course, they need to
Thunderbolt Firearms
1940 Jamison Dr, Ste 105
Bright, IN 47025
812-637-2767
www.thunderboltfirearms.com
We're Still in Bright!
Now offering Suppressors, and other NFA
items. Fingerprints, Photos, and Formation of
Gun Trusts done in house. Financing Available.
SAVE YOURSELF
be able to attract donors and
financial contributors. Many
positions are not full-time,
so candidates may need to
be able to balance their jobs
with their civic obligations.
Indiana’s Secretary of State
website, www.in.gov/sos/
has a great deal of information
for anyone considering
running for office, including
requirements, deadlines for
applications, reporting guidelines,
etc. Contacting your
party’s headquarters directly
is also a way to gain valuable
resources.
Another way to step up
your involvement in the
election process is by volunteering
as a poll worker. The
work is long, starting before
6 A.M. and lasting until
after the polls close at 6 P.M.
(One benefit is you can end
your long day with a glass of
spirits since Indiana allows
bars, taverns, and restaurants
that sell alcohol to stay open
on Election Day. The law
changed in 2012, making it
one of the final states to do
so. Now, Hoosiers can enjoy
a drink and vote on the same
day!)
Being a poll worker, either
as an Inspector, Judge, or
Clerk, provides a service and
is an excellent opportunity
to see the security protocols
firsthand. With training in
Save Money by Borrowing Items for Your Wedding
By Stefanie Hoffmeier
When planning a wedding,
the cost of decorations and
flowers can add up quickly.
After all, you want your
event to be the best day of
your life, and you want to
provide a memorable experience
for the guests. According
to bride.com, most
couples spend twenty to
thirty percent of their budget
on decorations. A lot of wedding
decorations will only be
used during the wedding after
which they are stored or discarded.
So why not consider
borrowing items like table
decorations and tablecloths
rather than buying them? By
borrowing items, you can
free up more of your budget
for things like food and entertainment.
And at the end of
the party, you will have less
advance, you become familiar
with how every action
taken at the voting center is
completed as a multi-person,
bipartisan team. I worked at
the polls in the last statewide
election, and I marveled
at the voters who came in
wheelchairs, with babies on
their hips, and in their work
clothes rushing in before
work, on their lunch hour, or
on their way home. However,
I was impressed with the
professionalism of the experienced
election workers. Every
action taken was watched
and scrutinized, from the time
we entered the building until
we dismantled the equipment,
left as a group, and made a
bi-partisan transport with
the results on thumb drives
and paper receipts to the
courthouse for verification.
The State and the Clerk’s
offices put in months of advance
physical and technical
preparation with Homeland
Security, the Indiana Election
Commission, the Statewide
Voter Registration System,
the Voting System Technical
Oversight Program (VSTOP),
IU Center for Applied Cybersecurity
Research (CACR),
the Secretary of State’s office
and their local staff. Dearborn
County Clerk of Courts
Wendy Beatty worked for ten
years as an Election Deputy
to store or throw in the trash.
The Dearborn County Recycling
Center (DCRC) Lending
Station allows individuals to
borrow items for weddings,
special events, and parties
at no cost. Decorative glass
jars, vases, tea-light candle
holders, tabletop signs, table
runners, chair bows, and
mirrors are just a few of the
items in the Lending Station
that can be borrowed for your
big event. Get creative and
search the web and Pinterest
for ideas on reusing items and
creating your tabletop decorations.
Simple glass vases,
candle holders, and mirrors,
can be dressed up with ribbons,
burlap, fabric, and silk
flowers. The Lending Station
has several colors of organza
table runners that can be used
on the table or tied into bows
before being promoted to
her current position. Ripley
County Clerk Liz Baumgartner
has equally impressive
on-the-job experience. Both
officials share solid confidence
in the security of the
election processes in their
counties.
Whether you are a voter
(all of you, hopefully), a
candidate, a donor, or an
election worker, please keep
Step 2 in mind. Do Your
Homework! Log on to political
party websites or call
the party’s headquarters to
request information about the
different candidates. Indiana
Republican Party- 317-635-
7561; Indiana Democratic
Party 317-231-7100. Another
online source is Vote411.org,
an award-winning educational
election service of the
League of Women Voters.
Get involved in community
activities and events to learn
from new people about local
happenings that are important
to you. Go to local meetings
– commissioners, school
boards, and councils to hear
about issues and decisions.
Keep an open mind, and
make your own decisions.
Remember that voting is
a privilege and a gift – and
it is your right to make your
neighborhood and country
better by voting.
around floral and glass decorations.
While you may not find everything
for your event at the
Lending Station, the items
that you do find will save
you money and time. Individuals
who borrow items do
not need to live in Dearborn
County. To choose items to
borrow from the Lending
Station, make an appointment
with Julie, the Reuse
Coordinator at the DCRC.
Borrowed items can then be
picked up the week before
the wedding and dropped
back off the following week.
Borrowers will be asked to
fill out a rental agreement
to ensure that items will be
returned on time and in the
same condition that they were
when borrowed. Items such
as tablecloths and chair covers
will need to be laundered
before being returned to the
Lending Station.
If you have items from your
wedding or event packed
away, consider donating them
so that they can be used for
another wedding or party. The
majority of items in the Lending
Station were donated by
the public. Anyone interested
in borrowing or donating
items can call the Dearborn
County Recycling Center at
812-926-9963 or email Julie
at reuse@
dearborncounty.in.gov to
make an appointment.
Saving for retirement is
easy – and we can help.
Open a Traditional or
Roth IRA today.
Does your child need vaccines?
Do you need a vaccine?
*School vaccines, lead tests, TB testing,
Flu vaccine, Covid vaccine
Call us today!
We have a programs for everyone
Uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid, Private insurance
Kendra: 812-537-8843
Becky: 812-537-8844
fcnbank.com
Dearborn County Health Department
165 Mary Street
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
The BEACON - Great News for Great People.