Perry County Election Board to Test Voting Machines Publicly March 30

The Perry County Election Board opened its voting machine test to the public Monday morning at the Commissioner's Meeting Room inside the county courthouse at 2219 Payne Street in Tell City. The test, which got underway at 9:30 a.m., gave residents, party representatives, and observers a direct look at the equipment that will carry votes on election day.

Indiana law requires pre-election testing and certification of voting equipment before any contest. Monday's session was designed to verify that machines are functioning correctly, that ballot formatting and voting logic are accurate, and that any configuration errors or printing issues are identified before they reach voters. While such tests rarely uncover major problems, they do occasionally surface formatting or calibration issues that staff must address in the days that follow.

The session also generates a formal administrative record. Election officials can reference the documented test results during the official canvass of returns or if a challenge to results is filed after the election. That record carries particular weight if questions later arise about how specific ballots were counted or how machines were configured at the time of testing.

By opening the test to the public, the Election Board fulfilled its statutory transparency obligations and gave partisan watchers the opportunity to raise concerns about ballot layout or machine calibration before any votes are cast. The Election Board and the Clerk's office are the responsible officials for disclosing any irregularities and providing timelines for correction.

The county published its notice on the official county website. Residents with questions about the test or upcoming elections can contact the Clerk of Court's office at 812-547-3741.