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WHEN MARGARET NOT TO HEAR US. I THINK WE'RE ALIVE.

[00:00:07]

WE'RE ALIVE. SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL? ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. IT'S 931. LET'S CALL THE MEETING OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO ORDER.

THERE IS A QUORUM PRESENT WHERE ANY MISSING ONE MEMBER.

THERE ARE NO GUESTS, SO WE WON'T WELCOME ANY GUESTS.

WE'LL WELCOME THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AND I HAVE A PARAGRAPH TO READ.

A CLOSED SESSION WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 12TH, 2025 UNDER PROVISION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE 3305B1 TO DISCUSS THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF AN EMPLOYEE PRESENT WERE MYSELF, SUSAN CAMPOS, MARGARET THOMPSON, DANA CALLAHAN AND WALTER PALMER.

NOW APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. OF THE DECEMBER 1225 MEETING.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY CHANGES? I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION TO APPROVE. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM DECEMBER.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION WAS MADE BY SUZANNE. SECOND.

SECOND, SECOND. OKAY. MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED.

ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. REQUEST FOR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US. YOU HAVE ONE CHANGE THAT. ALLISON. OH, THAT'S NOT TO THE AGENDA.

THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE AGENDA. OKAY. ELECTION DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

OKAY. SO WE HAD SEVERAL SB AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

SINCE OUR LAST BOARD MEETING AND THE STAFF EVALUATIONS WERE COMPLETED IN DECEMBER, THE FY 27 BUDGET REQUEST WAS SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY ON JANUARY 30TH, 2026.

AND THAT'S LATER IN THE AGENDA. SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT THEN.

ALSO, JUST A REMINDER, THE MARYLAND STATE ETHICS DISCLOSURE FILINGS ARE DUE APRIL 30TH.

YOU SHOULD GET AN EMAIL. IT'S IT'S CALM. OKAY.

AND THAT WILL INFORM YOU ON HOW TO SUBMIT THOSE VOTER REGISTRATION.

THE TOTALS REPORTS FROM DECEMBER AND FEBRUARY ARE INCLUDED FOR REVIEW.

I DIDN'T INCLUDE JANUARY COMPARISON BECAUSE WE DIDN'T MEET IN JANUARY, SO STAFF DIDN'T PULL THAT REPORT.

VOTER REGISTRATION AND MAIL IN VOTING INFORMATION WAS SENT TO NURSING HOMES ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026. SO WE'RE GOING TO WAIT TO HEAR BACK FROM THE NURSING HOMES.

AND THEN AT IN THE NEXT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE BOARD MEETINGS, WE'LL SCHEDULE WITH BOARD MEMBERS.

FOR YOU TO GO OUT AND VISIT THOSE NURSING HOMES AND ASSIST ANY VOTERS WHO ARE REQUESTING HELP WITH THEIR MAIL IN BALLOTS.

YOU THINK THAT'LL HAPPEN AGAIN? YEAH, I DO. WE HAVEN'T DONE IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

RIGHT? I MEAN, COVID REALLY CHANGED THINGS. BUT WE ARE PUTTING THAT STUFF BACK OUT THERE AND I DO FEEL LIKE THERE WILL BE INTEREST.

SO YEAH, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW BECAUSE WE'LL NEED SOME BIPARTISAN TEAMS OF BOARD MEMBERS TO GO OUT.

OKAY. OKAY. AND THEN I DID INCLUDE SB POLICY 20 6-01, WHICH IS ABOUT ELECTION JUDGE PARITY. SO THAT IS ATTACHED HERE.

AND IT'S JUST STATING THAT THE ELECTION DIRECTOR SHALL ASSIGN ELECTION JUDGES TO ACHIEVE PARITY TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE AT EACH POLLING PLACE IN ORDER TO ASSIST, IN ORDER TO ASSIST IN THE RECRUITMENT OF ELECTION JUDGES, THE ELECTION DIRECTOR SHALL PROVIDE A VACANCY REPORT MONTHLY TO THEIR LOCAL BOARD OF ELECTION MEMBERS BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2026. THE VACANCY REPORT SHOULD BE A STATISTICAL REPORT WHICH INCLUDES THE POLLING PLACE AND PARITY BREAKDOWN BY ELECTION JUDGE TYPE. SO AS YOU RECALL, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SOME MONTHS NOW.

HOWEVER, I DIDN'T HAVE IT BROKEN DOWN SPECIFICALLY BY POLLING PLACE.

SO I'VE ADDED THAT TO THE REPORT. THIS MONTH DOES LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

[00:05:01]

IT GIVES YOU MORE DETAIL AND IT SHOWS YOU AGAIN, BY BY POLLING PLACE AND THEN BY JUDGE TYPE AND THEN PARTY.

OKAY. SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE PARITY BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

ALSO ELECTION. SO THE ELECTION JUDGE ASSIGNMENT REPORT IS ATTACHED AND THAT'S AS OF FEBRUARY 2ND.

THEN ELECTION JUDGE ASSIGNMENTS. WE MAILED THE INFORMATION TO OUR ELECTION JUDGES, LETTING THEM KNOW THEIR JOB ASSIGNMENT AND THEIR POLLING PLACE THEY'LL BE WORKING AT.

AND ALSO THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED COMPLETED AND RETURNED TO US LIKE THE OATH.

THAT STUFF WAS SENT OUT ON JANUARY THE 8TH. SO WE'RE WAITING TO GET THAT BACK.

I THINK TAMMY'S GOT GOTTEN MOST OF IT BACK EXCEPT FOR LIKE 20 JUDGES.

SO SHE REACHED OUT TO THEM YESTERDAY AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET ALL THAT INFORMATION BACK VERY SOON.

SO FAR, SO GOOD. WE'VE HAD VERY FEW CHANGES SINCE THE ASSIGNMENTS WENT OUT BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE, OH, I FORGOT I HAVE A VACATION. OR SOMETHING'S COME UP.

BUT WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE IN THAT THOSE ELECTION JUDGES SO FAR HAVE, HAVE STUCK WITH THEIR ASSIGNMENTS.

SO THAT'S GREAT NEWS. AND THEN ELECTION OR EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES THE QUARTERLY EQUIPMENT CHARGING WAS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER. WE HAVE STARTED PACKING ELECTION SUPPLIES.

WE'VE ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON THE FORMS AND THE DOCUMENTATION.

ALSO THE FY 26 ANNUAL INVENTORY AUDIT PERIOD OPENED ON FEBRUARY 1ST, THE DEADLINE TO COMPLETE.

THAT IS MAY 31ST. LARRY HAS ALREADY COMPLETED IT, SO WE'RE GOOD.

AND THAT'S THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, BEING NEW, HE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHERE ANYTHING WAS.

SO IT'S KIND OF GREAT THAT THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY.

WE CAN FOCUS ON THE ELECTION PREPARATIONS. THE NEW POLL BOOK SOLUTION HAS BEEN SELECTED.

IT'S TEN X SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS. DELIVERY IS ANTICIPATED IN FY 27, AND IT'S GOING TO BE USED IN THE 2028 ELECTION CYCLE. SO THOSE ARE THE POLL BOOKS WHICH WE'VE BEEN YEAH, FORTUNATELY OUR POLL BOOKS, WE'VE TAKEN REALLY GOOD CARE OF THEM AND MAINTAIN THEM. SO WE HAVEN'T HAD KNOCK ON WOOD ANY ISSUES WITH OUR POLL BOOKS, BUT I KNOW THEY ARE PAST THEIR LIFE CYCLE.

SO IT'S, IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON. AND I THINK THAT THE NEW SOLUTION IS GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD FIT.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S USER FRIENDLY. IT'S VERY INTUITIVE.

SO I THINK THAT THE JUDGES WILL REALLY TAKE TO IT PRETTY EASILY.

THE NEW VOTING SYSTEM VENDOR HAS ALSO BEEN SELECTED, BUT THE INFORMATION.

AS FAR AS THE VENDOR'S NAME HAS NOT BEEN YET RELEASED.

IT WILL BE RELEASED PROBABLY IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.

ONCE THE VENDOR SELECTED, THERE'S A PERIOD WHERE OTHER VENDORS CAN I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD IS.

COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN NOW. AND FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.

AND SO ANYWAY, THAT'S GOING TO BE FOR USE IN THE 2028 ELECTIONS AS WELL.

SO IN 2028, A LOT OF CHANGES BECAUSE NEW POLL BOOKS AND NEW VOTING EQUIPMENT.

ALSO MOVING ON TO LEGISLATION, THE 20. OH, I PUT 2025.

IT'S ACTUALLY 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGAN ON JANUARY 14TH, 2026.

THERE ARE SEVERAL ELECTION RELATED BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED AND ARE BEING MONITORED BY MAYO.

AND OF COURSE, I'M KEEPING TRACK AS WELL. AND ONE THAT IS OF SIGNIFICANCE TO US IS HOUSE BILL 621 AND SENATE BILL 443. I REACHED OUT DURING OUR MAYO MEETING A FEW MONTHS BACK AND ASKED THAT MAYO SUPPORT MAYO SUPPORT OUR NEED TO HAVE A CHANGE TO THE ELECTION LAW THAT PERTAINS TO BOARD COUNCIL AND THE QUALIFICATIONS. AND SO THEY WERE VERY WILLING TO TO SUPPORT THAT.

SO WE, THEY REACHED OUT THE ACTUALLY THE MAYO.

THE MAYO LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR REACHED OUT TO SENATOR HERSHEY'S OFFICE AND ASKED IF HE WOULD SPONSOR THE BILL.

AND HE DID. AND SO ALSO I SAW MOUNTS ON THERE.

[00:10:03]

SO THERE ARE A COUPLE LOCAL SPONSORS FOR THE BILL.

AND ESSENTIALLY THIS BILL REMOVES THE REQUIREMENTS THAT, THAT THE BOARD COUNCIL RESIDE WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT THEY REPRESENT.

AND SO THAT WOULD HELP BECAUSE IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO FIND A BOARD COUNCIL TO REPLACE AT THE MOMENT.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME MORE INTEREST.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT PRACTICE IN TALBOT COUNTY BUT DON'T NECESSARILY THAT LIVE IN TALBOT COUNTY PRACTICE IN DENTON, BUT DIDN'T QUALIFY BECAUSE THEIR RESIDENCE IS RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTY LINE.

SO MARYLAND LAW IS MARYLAND LAW. THERE'S NO, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ELECTIONS, THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE STATE LAW, NOT NECESSARILY COUNTY LAW. SO IT'S RESIDENCY SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE FOR OUR BOARD ATTORNEY.

SO AGAIN, MONITORING THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY ISSUES WITH THAT PASSING.

AND HOPEFULLY FOR WALT'S CASE IT DOES. SO HE CAN FINALLY RETIRE AGAIN.

YEAH. AGAIN. AND I, I THINK IT WAS PUT IN AS AN EMERGENCY BILL.

SO IF IT DOES PASS, IT WOULD BE I THINK APRIL I, I CAN'T REMEMBER.

YEAH. SO THAT DAY I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK TO DOUBLE CHECK THE DATE.

ANYWHO SO THAT'S GOOD. AND CANDIDATE FILING THE LIST OF STATEWIDE CANDIDATES CAN BE VIEWED ON THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE ALONG WITH LOCAL CANDIDATES. AS OF FEBRUARY 2ND, 19 CANDIDATES FILED FOR LOCAL CONTEST IN CAROLINE COUNTY, AND THERE IS A LIST ATTACHED HERE FOR YOU TO SEE.

ALSO, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT INCLUDED IN THE MATERIALS THAT WE MAILED TO OUR ELECTION JUDGES, WE ARE OFFERING AN ELECTION JUDGE OPEN HOUSE ON FEBRUARY 24TH, WHICH IS THE CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINE.

SO WE'RE HERE UNTIL 9 P.M.. ANYWAY SO FROM 4 TO 7, WE HAVE OFFERED THE ELECTION JUDGES TO BE ABLE TO STOP IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE'LL BE USING DURING THE ELECTION.

ALSO THE SUPPLIES AND JUST, YOU KNOW, ASK ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE.

I THINK THIS IS MOST USEFUL FOR NEW ELECTION JUDGES WHO JUST HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING RELATED TO BEING AN ELECTION JUDGE. SO IT GIVES THEM A LITTLE BIT OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THINGS AHEAD OF THE TRAINING. SO MAYBE THAT WOULD MAKE TRAINING A LITTLE MORE SEAMLESS.

SO ON THE 24TH, IT IS NOT A TRAINING. IT'S JUST SIMPLY AN OPEN HOUSE AGAIN, WHERE THEY CAN COME IN AND JUST VIEW THE MATERIALS AND CHECK OUT THE VOTING EQUIPMENT. IT'S NOT A FORMAL TRAINING AND IT'S JUST A DROP IN PERIOD.

SO ANYWHO, THAT IS MY REPORT. THAT IS YOUR REPORT.

ALL RIGHT. BOARD MEMBERS REPORT. ANYBODY HAVE ANY THING? NOPE. NOPE. NOPE. QUIET. BOARD ATTORNEY'S REPORT.

THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT. YEAH, THIS ONE'S USUALLY.

OH. THE TELEPHONE CONFERENCE CALL SHOULD BE STARTING UP SOON.

THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS DOES IT AMONG ALL THE ATTORNEYS TO CATCH UP ON WHAT'S GOING ON ACROSS THE STATE LAW WISE, WHICH IS MY OPPORTUNITY USUALLY TO LISTEN AND SAY, THANK GOODNESS I'M IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

I AM PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT ALLISON SAID. I'VE I'D HAD SOMEBODY IN MIND TO BE MY SUCCESSOR WHO WOULD BE TERRIFIC. HE'S GOT HE KNOWS THE LAW. ELECTION LAW.

HE'D HAVE TO GET UP TO SPEED A LITTLE BIT AND AND GREAT PERSONALITY, BUT HE LIVES IN TALBOT COUNTY.

IN FACT, IT'S IN HIGHBANK, SO IT'S NOT TALBOT COUNTY BY MUCH.

SO IF THE BILL PASSES, I'M HOPING TO GET BACK TO HIM AND MAKE SURE HE'S STILL INTERESTED.

AND THEN IF SO, I'M THINKING OVERLAP A LITTLE BIT.

TIME WISE, I KNOW I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING SINCE ALISON SENT ME WHERE IT WAS.

THE THE HOUSE BILL HAS A COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE 25TH.

NO, THAT'S THE SENATE ONE. OH, OKAY. THE HOUSE IS THE 18TH.

OH, OKAY. AND THE SENATE ON THE 25TH. SO HOPEFULLY THAT GOES BACK.

[00:15:01]

AND HOPEFULLY NOBODY STARTS FIDDLING WITH IT BY AMENDING IT.

AND FOR YOUR BACKGROUND, PART OF THE REASON WHY THAT WAS IN WHEN I FIRST STARTED PRACTICING LAW, SHORTLY AFTER HAMMURABI DID HIS FIRST CODE EVERYBODY WAS WAS PRIVATE ATTORNEYS.

YOU KNOW, I WAS, I CLERKED FOR NEAR GERALDINE HUBBARD AND PEOPLE REFERRED TO THAT AS LAW FACTORY, YOU KNOW, IN DENTON, BECAUSE IT WAS SMALL PRACTICES.

AND EVEN THE STATE'S ATTORNEY DID, YOU KNOW, WAS A PRIVATE PRACTITIONER WHO DID STATE'S ATTORNEY PART TIME.

BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT. THERE'S BEEN A LOT MORE SPECIALIZATION.

YOU TAKE THE NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS IN CAROLINE COUNTY, AND YOU ELIMINATE THE ONES OF THAT TOTAL WHO ARE IN THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND CAN'T DO THIS, THE ONES IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND CAN'T DO THIS.

AND YOU REALLY WHITTLE THE NUMBERS DOWN A LOT.

I'VE TALKED WITH MY COUNTERPART IN DORCHESTER AND I THINK SHE HAS SIMILAR ISSUES.

SO THE BILL IS IS NECESSARY BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH MORE SPECIALIZATION NOW AND BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL LIVE IN ONE COUNTY AND HAVE AN OFFICE IN ANOTHER. WE'VE HAD SOME VERY GOOD PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SERVE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAPPEN TO LIVE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

IT'S GREAT WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A JUDGESHIP BECAUSE THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T APPLY FOR THEY CAN'T QUALIFY FOR THAT. SO IT LIMITS THE FIELD.

BUT BUT OTHER THAN THAT. SO I'VE GOT SOMEBODY IN MIND.

I HOPE HE'S STILL INTERESTED. AND IF SO, THEN I'LL HAND OFF AND RETIRE AGAIN.

BIG, BIG PARTY AND EVERYTHING. WELL, I, I WAS VERY GREATLY PLEASED THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO TO COOK FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE UP FOR THE, FOR THE REFRESHMENTS I GOT.

AND WHEN I RETIRED THE FIRST TIME THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LIFE SAVING MEASURE BECAUSE ANYBODY WHO HAS EVER SEEN ME COOK ALWAYS ASSIGNS ME TO CLEAN UP.

THAT'D BE MY REPORT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OLD BUSINESS? NEW BUSINESS. OKAY. SO NEW BUSINESS. WE HAVE THE FY 2027 BUDGET REQUEST.

I DID GIVE TO YOU AN UPDATED COPY OF THE SPREADSHEET WITH THE AMOUNTS.

AND THE UPDATED VERSION IS POSTED ONLINE WITH A PACKET.

BUT I HAD ALREADY SENT YOUR STUFF IN THE MAIL, SO I, THAT'S WHY I PROVIDED YOU AN UPDATED SPREADSHEET TODAY.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT WE DO HAVE AN INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET FROM LAST BUDGET CYCLE.

AND I DO HAVE IN THE LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONERS EXPLAINING THE INCREASE.

SO FOR MILEAGE AND CONFERENCE EXPENSES WE'VE INCLUDED COSTS FOR STAFF TO ATTEND THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT.

THE MARYLAND ELECTION OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.

AND THEN THE COST OF THE ANNUAL MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF ELECTION OFFICIALS DUES.

NOW, I'VE ALWAYS INCLUDED THE DUES IN THE BUDGET.

HOWEVER, I DIDN'T HAVE THEM SPECIFICALLY IN THAT LINE ITEM, SO IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY AN INCREASE.

I JUST PUT THEM IN THE APPROPRIATE LINE ITEM.

THE COST TO ATTEND THE TRAINING, I BUDGETED LIKE $1,500 FOR ALL THREE STAFF TO ATTEND.

FIVE CLASSES AND THEY MAY NOT HOLD FIVE CLASSES IN IN THE FISCAL YEAR, BUT I DID, I WAS TOLD TO PLAN FOR THAT.

ALSO VOTING AND REGISTRATION SERVICES INCLUDES ESTIMATED COSTS PROVIDED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

AND WE HAVE SEVERAL MAJOR PROJECTS, A FEW THAT I'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS THE STATEWIDE POLL BOOK PROJECT AND THE STATEWIDE VOTING SYSTEM.

THOSE TWO ITEMS AGAIN ARE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN 2028 ELECTIONS.

HOWEVER, THE COST WILL COME INTO PLAY IN 2027.

THEN THERE'S THE NEW VOTER REGISTRATION ELECTION ADMINISTRATION MODERNIZATION PROJECT, AND THAT'S THE VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM.

AND SO THOSE COSTS ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL. I RECEIVE AN ESTIMATE FROM THE STATE, TAKE THOSE COSTS AND PUT THEM IN THE BUDGET.

I HAVE NO SAY IN ANY OF THAT. SO I MADE SURE THAT OUR BUDGET REFLECTS THAT AND THE COMMISSIONERS ARE AWARE THE STATE COST, YOU KNOW, ARE REALLY JUST PROVIDED. AND I ALSO, AS USUAL, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT WAYS THAT WE REDUCE SPENDING.

SO THERE IS A PRETTY LENGTHY LIST OF THOSE WAYS THAT WE DO THAT.

AND THEN I ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT HOW, YOU KNOW, WE SPEND OUR BUDGET EACH YEAR AND HOPEFULLY AGAIN,

[00:20:02]

THAT CONTINUES. BUT LIKE I SAID, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL MAJOR PROJECTS COMING UP.

AND SOMETIMES THE ESTIMATES THAT THE STATE PROVIDES AREN'T ALWAYS ACCURATE.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS THE CHANCE THAT WE COULD BE OVER BUDGET.

AND SO THAT'S THE BUDGET. AND I HAD TO SEND THIS BEFORE YOU GUYS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT.

SO I DID, WHEN I SENT IT OVER TO DANNY AT THE FINANCE OFFICE, I LET HIM KNOW THAT THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY A DRAFT.

I WANTED TO PROVIDE IT TO YOU AT OUR MEETING AND HAVE YOUR APPROVAL.

AND I TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES, I WOULD LET HIM KNOW.

SO CAN DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET OR IF NOT, IF YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FY 27 BUDGET REQUEST.

DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FY 27 BUDGET.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE, AYE.

THANK YOU. AND ALSO I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A REALLY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FINANCE OFFICE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF THINGS DO CHANGE, WHICH THEY HAD CHANGED AFTER I SUBMITTED IT, I HAD TO SEND TWO REVISIONS BECAUSE MORE INFORMATION WAS FLOWING DOWN FROM THE STATE. SO I DO KEEP THEM IN THE LOOP AS FAR AS ANY CHANGES AS THEY COME.

SO BUT HOPEFULLY THIS IS IT FOR NOW. AND I THINK YOU SHOULD BE COMPLIMENTED ON YOUR LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU. OUTLINING YOUR 12 YEARS OR 11 YEARS OF 12 YEARS.

THANKS. WE'LL SKIP OVER PUBLIC COMMENTS BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ANY PUBLIC HERE.

THERE ISN'T ANY PUBLIC HERE. SCHEDULE THE NEXT MEETING.

OH, HOLD ON, WE HAVE ONE MORE PRESS RELEASE. YEAH, WE HAVE THE PRESS RELEASE, WHICH WAS UNDER NEW BUSINESS.

SO THE PRESS RELEASE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS PUT TOGETHER EXPLAINING THE POSTAL SERVICE POLICY CHANGES.

SO BASICALLY JUST LETTING FOLKS KNOW THAT IF YOU TAKE SOMETHING TO THE POST OFFICE OR YOU DROP IT IN THE BLUE POST OFFICE BOX.

THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT'S THE DAY IT'S GOING TO GET POSTMARKED.

SO JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW, ESPECIALLY THOSE MAIL IN BALLOT VOTERS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE YOUR BALLOT BY MAIL, BE SURE THAT YOU PLAN AHEAD AND YOU PUT IT IN THE, IN THE MAIL IN ENOUGH TIME FOR US TO YOU KNOW, FOR IT TO BE POSTMARKED TIMELY. WHICH IS GOING TO BE ON ELECTION DAY.

ALSO, IF THEY TAKE IT INTO THE POST OFFICE, THEY CAN ASK FOR IT TO BE POSTMARKED BY THE CLERK.

BUT JUST DROPPING IT IN THE BOX DOESN'T GUARANTEE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE POSTMARKED THE DAY YOU DROP IT.

OKAY. SO THE STATE BOARD PUT THIS PRESS RELEASE OUT JUST TO EDUCATE VOTERS ON THAT NEW POLICY.

AND ALSO I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION IN THE MAIL, IN BALLOTS, MATERIALS THAT ARE SENT TO THOSE VOTERS JUST, YOU KNOW, AS A NOTE, LETTING THEM KNOW. SO JUST ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR YOUR BALLOTS TO BE POSTMARKED BY 8 P.M. ON ELECTION DAY. OKAY, SO THAT'S ALL.

YOU EXPECT ANY MORE CANDIDATES TO FILE? YEAH, ACTUALLY WE DO.

AND WE HAVE HAD MORE COME IN AND FILE SINCE THE REPORT WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR MAILING PACKET.

SO YEAH, WE'VE WE'VE HAD A STEADY FLOW OF CANDIDATES.

GOOD. MAYBE THERE'LL BE AN INCREASE IN VOTER TURNOUT.

YEAH, POSSIBLY. I THINK THAT WILL HAVE. I THINK WE'LL HAVE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TURNOUT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF HIGHLY CONTESTED CONTESTS IN THIS UPCOMING ELECTION, SO. YEAH. I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD.

SCHEDULE THE NEXT MEETING MARCH 13TH. OH YES, I HAVE MARCH 13TH.

I WILL NOT BE HERE. OKAY. OKAY. YOU DON'T NEED AN EXCUSE.

ANYBODY CARES. OH, DO I NEED AN EXCUSE? YEAH.

YOU DON'T NEED ONE. THE DOCTOR'S DOCTOR'S NOTE.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

[00:25:04]

I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.