Bartholomew County officials have approved voting sites for the upcoming municipal primary in May and November’s city general election.
Two locations that had been used — Healing Waters Church and East Columbus Fire Station — were replaced with Flintwood Wesleyan Church and Bible Church of Columbus in an effort to make voting sites more accessible and boost voter turnout.
“We were looking for a good location on the bus route, and that’s why the Election Board chose the Bible Church of Columbus,” said Shari Lentz, Bartholomew County voter registration supervisor. “The fire station is the last drop-off on the bus route. So if you rode the bus, you’d have to ride the bus for about an hour to get there. It was just more difficult. We’re hoping (the new location) is an easier access point for folks needing to use the bus, plus it’s just a little bit more centrally located.”
The Election Board chose Flintwood Wesleyan Church over Healing Waters Church because Flintwood Wesleyan Church is located on a main thoroughfare, 25th Street, said Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps.
“Healing Waters Church was great,” he said. “However, parking and getting to it was a little bit of a challenge. It wasn’t on the main road, and in terms of voter turnout, it has been toward the bottom.”
The other locations include St. John’s Masonic Lodge at 4131 Rocky Ford Road, Grace Lutheran Church at 3201 Central Ave., Donner Center at 739 22nd St., The Commons at 300 Washington St., German American Bank at 2310 W. Jonathan Moore Pike and Terrace Lake Church at 4260 W. County Road 200S.
Additionally, the county commissioners approved early voting hours at the Bartholomew County Courthouse, from April 9 to May 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additionally, the courthouse will be open on the two Saturdays before the primary, on April 27 and May 4, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The primary will be May 7.
Commissioners Larry S. Kleinhenz and Rick Flohr approved the sites and early voting hours at the courthouse. Commissioner Carl Lienhoop was absent to attend a funeral, county officials said.
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Voting centers will be open for the May 7 primary from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following locations:
- Flintwood Wesleyan Church at 5300 25th St.
- St. Johns Masonic Lodge at 4131 Rocky Ford Road
- Grace Lutheran Church at 3201 Central Ave.
- Donner Center at 739 22nd St.
- Bible Church of Columbus at 3010 10th St.
- The Commons at 300 Washington St.
- German American Bank at 2310 W. Jonathan Moore Pike
- Terrace Lake Church at 4260 W. County Road 200S
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To learn more about the upcoming primary, visit the Bartholomew County Clerk’s office website at bartholomew.in.gov/clerk.html.
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