BEDFORD — As Indiana prepares for the 2026 election cycle, Lawrence County Clerk Amy Voorhies has announced a public invitation to witness the “Logic and Accuracy” testing of the county’s voting equipment.
The public test is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, at 9:30 a.m. at the Courthouse Plaza. This state-mandated procedure is designed to ensure all machines are functioning properly and counting ballots with 100% accuracy before any votes are cast in the upcoming primary.
The public test is a critical transparency measure in Indiana’s election security protocol. During the session, election officials will put the machines through a rigorous “safety inspection” similar to a dry run of Election Day itself.
Key components of the testing include:
- Clearing Totals: Demonstrating that every machine begins with a “zero report,” meaning no previous votes are stored in the system.
- Test Ballots: Using a pre-marked set of test ballots to verify that the tabulators correctly read every office and candidate on the ballot.
- Error Detection: Ensuring the equipment properly identifies and rejects improperly marked ballots (such as “over-votes,” where too many candidates are selected).
- Tabulation Verification: Confirming that the physical paper trail matches the digital totals recorded by the machines.
“This gives us actual visual proof,” Voorhies noted regarding the importance of these tests. “We physically check them prior to every election so that the public can rest assured their vote is protected.”
2026 Election Calendar
The testing comes just weeks before the first major hurdle of the 2026 midterm cycle.
- Primary Election Day: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
- General Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
During the May primary, voters will select Democratic and Republican nominees for various federal, state, and local offices, including all nine of Indiana’s U.S. House seats and numerous county positions.
Tools for Voters
Clerk Voorhies is encouraging all Lawrence County residents to take an active role in their civic duty by preparing early. Voters are urged to visit indianavoters.in.gov to access the following resources:
- Check Registration: Verify that your name and address are current.
- Sample Ballots: Review exactly who and what will be on your specific ballot before heading to the polls.
- Polling Locations: Find your designated voting site and check the official hours of operation.
“Checking your registration status and reviewing voting information early is the best way to avoid issues on Election Day,” Voorhies stated.
