Wayne County’s election board certified the results of the May 5 primary and addressed topics ranging from emergency contacts for poll workers to one candidate’s campaign finance paperwork during a May 15 meeting.
After a poll worker needed emergency medical treatment, board chair and Democratic Party representative Maggie Thomas learned the inspector in charge of that site didn’t have contact information for the patient. Fortunately, she is doing well and already inquired about working the fall election.
The three-member board approved Thomas’ suggestion of asking poll workers to supply a name and phone number of an emergency contact in case of medical needs or other emergencies.
The board also approved a provisional ballot from a voter who requested one party’s ballot to be delivered by the traveling board, but when they arrived, she said it wasn’t the ballot she chose, so she received a provisional ballot. As no races were decided by one vote, the board agreed to let her ballot count.
Misty Hollis, Wayne Precinct 21 chair for the Republican Party and member of Wayne County Council, raised two questions about campaign finance paperwork filed by Kyle Weatherly, a Republican candidate for sheriff.
Donations of $50 and $99 were listed as coming from anonymous donors, which is not allowed on that form. Neither gift was enough to require being itemized. The board agreed to ask Weatherly to amend the form to remove the two donations or provide names and addresses for the donor(s). No fine will be assessed.
Hollis also asked for clarification about Weatherly’s $1,303.26 yard sign expense, noting that fellow sheriff candidate Alan Moore spent $6,077.63 on signs between January-April 2026 and to her it appeared Weatherly had as many or more signs than Moore. Weatherly’s June-December 2025 paperwork showed no expenditures.
Hollis said if an individual or company bought signs for Weatherly’s campaign, the report should note an in-kind contribution.
Because candidates have one more round of finance paperwork for the primary and some invoices might not have been received before the previous deadline, the board agreed to give Weatherly time to clarify that question and amend the form. Weatherly was not present at the meeting.
Thomas also received a letter from a new county resident who believed they’d registered to vote at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, but discovered they couldn’t vote. Election staff said they’ve talked with at least three people who’ve had trouble voting after believing they’d registered at the BMV.
Wayne County Clerk Tara Pegg said she will bring up that concern with Indiana’s clerks’ association to see if it’s a statewide issue.
Thomas suggested prospective voters register where they can complete the form and request a copy of it, which is not currently offered at the BMV.
Future election board meetings will be added to Wayne County’s meetings calendar on the county’s website at waynecounty.in.gov/publiccalendar.php.
A version of this article appeared in the May 20 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
