MAY 19, 2026 BER MEETING MINUTES

PUTNAM COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND REGISTRATION

GENERAL MEETING MINUTES

PUTNAM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

BER CONFERENCE ROOM

May 19, 2026

6:00 P.M.

 

  1. Call to order: 6:05 P.M.
  2. Roll Call
    1. Mr. Charles Patten, Chairperson: present
    2. Ms. Lorriane Webb, Vice-Chairperson: present
    3. Ms. Anne Parker: absent
    4. Ms. Sarah Maslayak: present
    5. Mr. Dick Forrester: present
  3. Public Comments
    1. none
  4. Approval of Agenda
    1. Ms. Maslayak moved to approve the agenda.
    2. Ms. Webb seconded the motion.
    3. Vote: all in favor.
  5. Recommended Consent Agenda
    1. Approval of Minutes April 7, 2026, and May 4, 2026
      1. Mr. Forrester moved to approve of the minutes as presented.
      2. Ms. Webb seconded the motion.
      3. Vote: all in favor.
  6. Discussion Items
    1. General Primary and Non-Partisan Election, May 29, 2026
      1. Mrs. Rudolph updated the Board with the numbers for:
        1. Advanced Voting
        2. Absentee By Mail
        3. Provisional
      2. The Board set the Pre-Certification Meeting for May 22, 2026, at 3PM and the Certification meeting for May 26, 2026, at 3PM
    2. Risk-Limiting Audit, June 1, 2026
      1. Mrs. Rudolph updated the Board regarding the date for the Risk Limiting Audit to include two State elections and the Ballot Image Audit using Enhanced Audit
    3. Runoff Primary-June 16, 2026
      1. Mrs. Rudolph updated the Board regarding the date for the Runoff Election and next Board meeting date change.
    4. Policy Changes
      1. Mr. Patten stated that he would like to settle the policy changes tonight if possible, but would like to give the Board a chance to speak about their thoughts on the policy and have an open discussion before a motion
        1. Ms. Webb agreed
        2. Ms. Maslayak agreed.
      2. Mr. Forrester stated that he would like to adjust the policy to follow the attorney’s advice regarding the current policies with the BER members, full- and part-time staff and poll workers forbidden from election/campaign activity while on duty or in official capacity as such.
      3. Mr. Patten discussed the reason the current combined board and policies are in place to limit campaigning. The 05-01 policy was a broad policy, and the 06-03 policy was to define and carve out poll workers.
      4. Mr. Patten stated that there is a debate about the 1st amendment right whether rightfully or wrongfully, some common sense needs to be applied. He stated that if it causes discredit to the staff, the staff should sign off and sacrifice the 1st amendment right to benefit the election office.  Mr. Patten stated that the BER members and employees should give up the right for the integrity of elections.  Mr. Patten stated that the policy should be in place to restrict, it needs to be signed to work for the BER.
      5. Mr. Forrester stated that he doesn’t disagree and would love it to be that way. He agreed with Mr. Patten that BER members and employees should voluntarily restrict from campaigning to have fair and the appearance of fair elections. Mr. Forrester stated, however, that law has progressed that we can’t have absolute authority over people’s actions outside of their employment.
      6. Ms. Maslayak agreed with Mr. Forrester to not go against the advice of our attorney. Ms. Maslayak stated that this has changed her own behavior that she has engaged in and we need to consider the safety of the BER staff. Ms. Maslayak stated that we live in a polarized world and this has caused reputational damage to BER staff. Ms. Maslayak agreed that the attorney has advised that we cannot dictate what the staff does outside of the office, so maybe it needs to be black and white in training to be aware of the consequences and be clear of what that communication says.  Ms. Maslayak stated that we need to listen to the attorney.
      7. Mr. Forrester stated that we need to find out from the attorney and that he does not think that we should make a policy that we cannot enforce but possibly come up with a request that the staff govern themselves and recognize that the person is not speaking on behalf of the BER.
      8. Mr. Patten references Paulding County’s policy in Section 3 of their Chapter 12 Social Media Policy for Official County Business and stated that they have a policy and we could create something similar. We could re-word and see if someone files suit if fired.
      9. Mr. Forrester stated that in the Mrs. Vorherr’s case, she did violate the current policy; but she had no prior issues, she had been counseled with progressive discipline, and it was her willful behavior on her personal time.
      10. Mr. Patten stated that people get fired all the time for not following policy at work. Mr. Patten stated that 05-01 is broad and 06-03 refines 05-01.
      11. Ms. Maslayak stated that the policy states on days not actively working. Mrs. Vorherr was not in violation, since she was not working.
      12. Mr. Patten stated that 05-01 says you don’t do it, 06-03 in his opinion refines 05-01, is missing a comma that would have carved out leniency for poll workers, but it was meant to cover everyone but poll workers. Mr. Patten stated maybe we can put that in parenthesis (on days actively working).  Mr. Patten stated that the employees should do what is good for the county.
      13. Mr. Forrester read the attorney’s opinion from the email sent regarding 1st amendment rights and the current policy being unconstitutional and unenforceable.
      14. Ms. Maslayak asked that we ask the county attorney if our current policy has any teeth.
      15. Mr. Forrester stated yes, the county attorney stated that 05-01 is unenforceable.
      16. Mr. Patten asked if the county attorney has addressed the meat of the policy, who we are addressing and what?
      17. Mr. Forrester stated in his summary we could put anyone’s name in the last sentence. He stated that we may win or we may lose a lawsuit. He stated that we have an exact opinion from the attorney regarding the current policies. Mr. Forrester stated that we should put a policy together.
      18. Mr. Patten stated that the attorney needs to review the policy that we have in place now and make it right. Mr. Patten stated that this has impugned the integrity of our election and that this situation has caused a problem.
      19. Ms. Webb stated that there is no consequence if someone violates the current policy.
      20. Mr. Patten agreed that right now there is no consequence.
      21. Ms. Webb stated there should be a consequence, that the staff represents the office and that if the staff does not like the policy then the staff should not work for the BER.
      22. Mr. Forrester stated that the policy should state that a failure to follow the policy will result in consequences.
      23. Ms. Webb stated that the integrity of the office needs to be protected and maintain public confidence in the office.
      24. Mr. Patten stated that the staff should be willing to sign it and make that choice, they can still go to rallies or donate.
      25. Ms. Webb stated that the poll workers should not be excluded from the policy.
      26. Ms. Rudolph brought attention to the time-close of polls.
  7.  Recess:
    1. Time:7:00 pm
      1. Mr. Forrester made a motion to recess.
      2. Ms. Maslayak seconded the motion.
      3. Vote: All in favor.
  8. Reconvene:
    1. Time: 10:41pm
      1. Ms. Maslayak made a motion to reconvene,
      2. Ms. Webb seconded the motion.
      3. Vote: All in favor.
  9. The Board proceeded with the previous discussion.
    1. Mr. Patten proposed that the Board individually make up a policy to include replacing or clarifying 06-03 and bringing the individual policies together to blend into one policy.
    2. Mr. Forrester asked if the BER should state that the new policy replaces or supersedes both 05-01 and 06-03?
    3. Mr. Patten stated that the policy should restructure or redefine the policy concerning campaigning.
    4. Mr. Forrester made a motion that each BER member will prepare a draft of the BER policy regarding campaigning/electioneering regarding the conduct of the BER members, employees and poll workers with the goal of superseding 05-01 and 06-03.
    5. Discussion: Does the Board need to amend the motion to add that the draft will be discussed and acted upon as appropriate at the June 19, 2026, Board meeting?
    6. Mr. Forrester made a motion to amend the original motion.
      1. Ms. Maslayak seconded the motion.
      2. Vote: All in favor.
    7. Mr. Forrester made a motion that each BER member will prepare a draft of the BER policy regarding campaigning/electioneering regarding the conduct of the BER members, employees and poll workers with the goal of superseding 05-01 and 06-03 and that the draft will be discussed and acted upon as appropriate at the June 19, 2026, Board meeting.
      1. Ms. Maslayak seconded the motion.
      2. Vote: All in favor.
  10. Budget 2026
    1. Mrs. Rudolph updated the Board with the most recent Budget information.
  11. Budget 2027
    1. Mrs. Rudolph updated the Board with the 2027 Budget timeline.
  12. Business and Information from Board Members and Staff
    1. Mr. Forrester: none
    2. Ms. Maslayak none
    3. Ms. Parker: absent
    4. Ms. Webb: none
    5. Mr. Patten: none
    6. Mrs. Rudolph: expressed frustration with the silence from the Board of Elections regarding social media posts and the effect that it has had on the staff. Mr. Patten agreed that the statements made on social media have been hurtful to all members and there is a feeling of helplessness and it feels that the more we say, the more it keeps coming, so saying nothing at this time was better. Ms. Webb stated that her initial feeling was to make a statement. Ms. Maslayak stated that what is on Facebook is not valid and not to assume that it is. She stated that she had no idea in the last meeting who the candidate even was that visited Mrs. Rudolph’s home because Mrs. Rudolph kept the candidate anonymous and she did not know it was Ms. Ray. Ms. Maslayak still thinks that the visit was inappropriate.  The Board expressed their support for the office staff.
  13. Adjourn: 11:33PM
    1. Mr. Forrester moved to adjourn the meeting.
    2. Ms. Maslayak seconded the motion.
    3. Vote: All in favor

 

ATTEST:

 

_______________________________                                  ______________________________

Kimberly Rudolph                                                                                  Charles Patten

Supervisor Election and Registration                                                Chairperson