In an effort to increase civic awareness, all Porter County fifth graders are getting a chance at redesigning the iconic “I voted” stickers given out at polling places. Finalists will be chosen by public vote at the Porter County Election & Registration Office booth at the Porter County Fair this summer with the winning design used as the official sticker in the general election in November.

“We had a good response,” Porter County Clerk Jessica Bailey told the elections board Thursday afternoon. “We already have over 200 students that are going to be participating. For spring break that’s pretty good.”

In other business, work is focused on preparing for the primary Tuesday, May 7. Sundae Schoon, director of the Porter County Elections & Registration Office, said names are still being accepted for backup poll workers.

She said her office has sent out 477 absentee-by-mail ballots so far. “It’s a little bit lower than normal,” she said.

Assistant Director of Elections & Registration Tara Graf has been busy educating the homebound residents of assisted living facilities about the office’s travel board. The board, made up of a Democrat and a Republican, will begin visiting homebound voters two weeks before the election.

“It’s been fun for me and educational for them,” Graf said of the informational visits she’s made to area nursing homes and the like to educate residents on the service. Those who are incapable of getting to a voting center may apply for a visit by the travel board by calling (219) 465-4584 or visiting https://[email protected]/170/Elections-Registration.

Another important date surrounding the upcoming primary is April 3, when the Elections & Registration Office is offering a campaign finance class to educate candidates on the campaign finance reports mandated by the state three times a year.

The next of those due is the pre-primary report, with a deadline to the Elections & Registration Office by noon on April 19.

Porter County’s campaign finance consultant Kenard Taylor told the board he just analyzed 127 reports. Of those, 97 were correct and 30 had errors. “Twenty-four percent were bad,” he said. “We continue to bring that number down.”

The board also unanimously voted to confirm the decisions against a dozen individuals and organizations for late or missing campaign finance reports or subsequent fines.

The public test of all voting equipment will take place Friday, April 5 at two locations, beginning at 8 a.m. at the new Elections & Registration Office at 155 Franklin St. in Valparaiso. The public is welcome and should report to the office entrance where they will be escorted by staff.

Once equipment is tested there the meeting will recess until the board can reconvene at the Porter County Expo Center, 215 E. Division Road in Valparaiso, to finish testing the equipment there.

“It might take a little longer than normal,” Bailey said.

Voter registration ends April 8, early voting begins April 9 and the last day the Elections & Registration Office can accept an application requesting an absentee ballot is April 25.

Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.