Inspection completed

The St. Joseph County Board of Election Canvassers completed a once-every-four-years task Wednesday.

According to state law, every county’s board of election canvassers must complete an inspection of ballot boxes and bags. County Clerk Pattie Bender said the task previously was performed over a two-day period, when she and the four-member board traveled to all 16 townships and the cities of Three Rivers and Sturgis.

This time, Bender and board members set up a check station at the county fairgrounds and representatives from the 18 entities made the trip to Centreville. It was an all-day job, as Bender scheduled each entity in 15-minute increments. But, she said, it’s a relief to have the task out of the way before a May 6 vote.

Bender said the inspection ensures it’s impossible to tamper with ballots. She said the inspections Wednesday yielded no problems.