Elections board plans a mock voting session at county fair

At the monthly meeting Wednesday, Auglaize County Board of Elections Director Michelle Wilcox announced election officials and the Auglaize County Veterans Service Commission will be teaming up and sharing a booth at the fair.

The board of elections will be hosting a mock veteranthemed election Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to fully demonstrate the election process for the veteran population. Election questions will include the best branch of service, what service branch has the best looking uniform, which branch has the best mascot, and who is their favorite member of the Auglaize County Veterans Service Commission.

Wilcox said they would be able to easily dispel myths such as that voting machines are hooked up to the internet. A presentation will follow voting where results will be announced.

“Anytime we can reach out with information to our veteran population, it’s always a positive,” Veterans Service Officer Eric Pugh said.

Board member action included approving issues filed for the November election and 2020 special election chargebacks, and certifing issues, including a five-year, 2.5-mil levy renewal for New Knoxville fire and EMS, a 1-mil replacement levy for Logan Township fire and EMS, a fiveyear 2.5 mill levy renewal for Wayne Township EMS, an additional five-year 0.7 mill tax levy for Wayne Township for maintaining and operating cemeteries, and a 2-mill fiveyear levy renewal for Washington Township for fire and EMS.

Election officials also approved combining two smaller precincts.

“You want to leave stuff in the community because it becomes more of a tradition for them, but the small amount of voters, with the turnout we’ve had early in person and absentee it was 59 percent of our regular voters,” Michelle Wilcox said.

Salem Township voting will be moved to the Noble Township Community Center. Wayne Township would move from the Waynesfield Public Library to Goshen at the Nazarene Fellowship Hall.

Wilcox said fitting in the library had been difficult and that the hall was very accessible for those with disabilities.

Board member Diana Dulebohn said area voters might appreciate the boards frugality in not having to hire additional poll workers.