Lake County Board Approves Urgent Precinct Consolidations Today

UPDATE: The Lake County Board of Elections and Registration has just approved 29 precinct consolidations to address urgent splits affecting county governance. This decision comes as the Indiana Secretary of State, Diego Morales, mandated that precincts with fewer than 600 active voters must be consolidated following a presidential election.

In a letter dated July 2023, Morales instructed the county to submit a consolidation plan with unanimous board approval. However, the board’s recent meeting on July 30 revealed that five additional precinct consolidations were approved in a contentious 3-2 vote along party lines.

The implications of these changes are significant for Lake County voters. The newly approved consolidations aim to eliminate confusion and streamline the voting process, as precinct splits can complicate elections for both voters and candidates.

Michelle Fajman, the Director of the Lake County Board of Elections, stressed the importance of these actions, stating, “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.”

In response to the Secretary of State’s earlier proposal, which created various splits across the county, the election board took decisive action. During the meeting, the board voted 3-2 to revert to its original precinct consolidations, overriding the Secretary of State’s adjustments.

The Secretary of State’s changes included problematic merges that resulted in splits affecting county councils and school boards, notably in Gary and East Chicago. For example, the merging of Gary 5-13 with Gary 5-16 created a county council split, while multiple merges in East Chicago caused significant city council and school board splits.

Fajman confirmed that the board submitted two reports for precinct consolidation: one reflecting the board’s unanimous decisions and another from the Republican assistant director, Jessica Messler. Fajman clarified that the board’s actions were not politically motivated but rather aimed at compliance with state law.

Messler added, “It’s been standard practice that both sides submit a report,” reinforcing the notion that transparency is paramount in these proceedings.

The Lake County Board’s next steps hinge on the approval from the election division. If approved, official notices will be sent regarding the precinct consolidations. In the event of rejection, a hearing will be held to address the board’s proposals.

As these changes unfold, the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration remains committed to ensuring that the voting process is as smooth and straightforward as possible for all residents. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing situation.