Bartholomew County election officials have set in-person voting locations for the Nov. 3 presidential election.
In-person early voting will take place at the former Carson’s store at FairOaks Mall weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Oct. 6 to Oct. 30, said Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps.
Additionally, early voting will be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the former Carson’s store the two Saturdays prior to election day — Oct. 24 and Oct. 31 — and from 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 2. No voting will be held at the Bartholomew County Courthouse.
The bipartisan Bartholomew County Election Board also has decided on 12 in-person vote centers for the general election, compared to the usual 16 locations, Phelps said.
The voting locations for the general election include:
Flintwood Wesleyan Church, 5300 25th St.
St. Johns Masonic Lodge, 4131 Rocky Ford Rd.
FairOaks Mall (25th Street side), 2104 25th St.
Donner Center, 739 22nd St.
River of Living Water Christian Church (formerly Berean Bible), 51 N. Brooks St.
Terrace Lake Church, 4260 W. County Road 200S
Westside Community Church, 124 Tipton Lakes Blvd.
Elizabethtown Fire Station, 10203 E. Legal Tender in Elizabethtown
Hope Moravian Church, 202 Main St. in Hope
Clifford Fire Station, 7850 N. Depot St. in Clifford
German Township Fire Station, 9428 Main St. in Taylorsville
Ogilville United Methodist Church, 11910 S. State Road 58
Phelps said he feels the Bartholomew County is in “great shape” in terms of voting locations, with six located inside the Columbus city limits and six in the county.
“We have four more election-day locations than we did during the primary. We had eight in the primary. We’re going to do six in the city and six in the county, so I think we have a good spread (of locations),” Phelps said. “…It was kind of juggle to try to get the locations to agree upon, trying to make sure the parties feel comfortable with the amount of poll workers that they can have for these locations. I think we’re in great shape. We’re looking forward to being to pull this off again during a global pandemic.”
Currently, around 84 poll workers, including around seven per voting location, have volunteered for the general election, but the local Democratic and Republican parties have identified some backup poll workers in case a few decide to drop out due to concerns about COVID-19, Phelps said.
Phelps is predicting a record turnout this November and is urging voters to take advantage of the 28-day early voting period to cast their ballots if they decide to do so in person.
“My recommendation is if folks want to vote in person, that’s fine,” Phelps said. “There’s a mask mandate and we’re going to have hand sanitizer for voters. The poll workers will be practicing proper social distancing and wearing PPE gear. But I would recommend that voters take advantage of the 28 days at FairOaks Mall just simply because I think there’s going to be a record turnout in general with the number of people who come out to vote.”
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