Page 6A THE BEACON <strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2024</strong> 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.
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2024</strong> THE BEACON Page 7A Get it All at www.goBEACONnews.com
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