In the heart of Porter County, where democracy meets determination, Sundae Schoon, director of elections and voter registration, has been stirring up the perfect recipe for fair and accessible elections for over a decade. Schoon, who strongly advocates that every vote counts, was awarded the 2023 County Election Employee of the Year at the Indiana State Election Conference, much to her surprise.
From her early days as a poll worker to orchestrating the intricate dance of absentee voting and Election Day, Schoon has been a steadfast champion of the democratic process, but she's quick to note that she doesn't do it alone.
"This isn't just my work; it's a team effort," she said. "We function like a well-oiled machine, each of us playing a vital role in ensuring every aspect of the electoral process runs smoothly."
As the date for Indiana’s primary election approaches, Porter County’s Department of Elections and Voter Registration is hard at work in its new office, now conveniently located at 155 Franklin Street. No more basement blues; it’s now front and center with big red, white, and blue decals on full display. Additionally, the patio, a relic from its days as Casa del Mar restaurant, is now primed for voter registration drives during farmers' markets.
Always looking for ways to make voting and elections easier for residents, Schoon said there are several advantages to this new location for potential voters.
“Today, it’s a lot easier to find us,” said Schoon. “At the Franklin Street location, there are graphics facing the front of the street that help people find us with ease.”
Previously operating out of the Porter County Government building, 155 Franklin allows for access right off the sidewalk in the heart of downtown Valparaiso.
“At our new location, we get a lot more of the public coming in,” said Schoon. “Before our office was in the maze of the county building.”
Essential to the workings of Porter County Government, Schoon hopes that the new office will not only make it easier for residents to vote but also to see the workings of elections that happen all year. Getting involved has never been easier.
“Our office does everything from the candidate filing to voter registration to getting the voting machines ready,” said Schoon. “We work all year to make sure voting and electing is easy for all of Porter County.”
The Department of Elections and Voter Registration doesn’t just support voters. Candidates hoping to run for office register at the 155 Franklin office.
“Candidates running for office will also come to our new location,” said Schoon.
Having an election and voter registration department that is easy to find goes a long way towards making sure all of Porter County can vote. In fact, Porter County residents hoping to register or sign up for absentee voting can easily do so at the Franklin location.
“Registration for Indiana’s primary election ends April 8,” said Schoon. “Voters can come into our office by 4:30 p.m., or they can register online on the Indiana voters site until 11:59 p.m.”
It's also not just about the hustle and bustle of Election Day itself. Schoon and her dedicated team at the Porter County Elections & Voter Registration office are all about the long game. They're not just about checking boxes; they're about ensuring every vote counts, from the president down to the school board.
"We start preparing for the next election as the last election ends,” Schoon said.
Year-long preparations for voting include operating and securing voting by mail, a mobile voting bus, and multiple voting locations for early and days-of voting, testing and coding election equipment, form preparation and much, much more.
Additionally, the Department of Elections and Voter Registration office's 2024 Primary Election website has a wealth of information available to help voters make an informed decision about how they’re going to vote. For example, dates, times, and locations are easily found for early voting, mobile voting locations, and day of voting.
With the primary date approaching, Schoon and her team are hard at work.
“Our team has just completed testing all our voting machines for security,” said Schoon. “We will have our Public Test on April 5.”
Any Porter County resident is welcome to visit 155 Franklin Street to view the public test as well.
Ultimately, the new location is another step towards making voting easy for every Porter County resident. The 155 Franklin Street office’s central location encourages voters to engage with the Department of Elections and Voter Registration by being accessible, transparent, and friendly. If anyone in Porter County has questions about the upcoming primary, they know where to go.
The fun doesn't stop there, either. With a federal grant in their pockets courtesy of Secretary of State Diego Morales, Porter County is gearing up for a voter education extravaganza. Schoon's eyes light up as she talks about using the grant to produce professional videos on voting equipment, revamping its website to be more user-friendly, and engaging local schools in the electoral process.
Additionally, with the deadline for registering to vote on April 8 fast approaching, Porter County is pulling out all the stops kicking off Early Voting on April 9, running through noon on May 6 at seven different locations, not including several Mobile Bus stops ensuring everyone gets their chance to make their voice heard. You can find all early voting times and locations on the Porter County website at porterco.org/elections.
So, what are you waiting for? Get out there, Porter County, and let's make democracy not just a duty, but a delight!
To learn more about Porter County government and the Department of Elections and Voter Registration, please visit porterco.org.
