Early voting is set to begin Tuesday in Bartholomew County.
Early voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday to Oct. 30 on weekdays at the former Carson’s store in FairOaks Mall, Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps said. It will also be offered from 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.
Phelps that the former Carson’s is the only early voting location; there will be no early voting at the Bartholomew County Courthouse or at Donner Center.
The former department store was chosen for a variety of reasons, including space for both social distancing and voting machines, ADA accessibility, parking availability and general ease of access for voters, Phelps said.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
There will be seven poll workers on site, including an inspector, a judge from each party, a clerk from each party, and two "sanitizers," he said.
“We will have two dedicated poll workers whose sole responsibility will be to sanitize the voting location consistently," he said. "They will be wiping down doors, tables, voting equipment and restocking all of the sanitizer for voters.”
The early voting site will have social distancing markers on the floor so voters know where to stand while waiting to be checked in on the electronic poll books. He added that masks are "strongly encouraged" and cited the statewide mask mandate, which is set to continue through Oct. 17.
Voters will need to bring a photo ID, Phelps said. He also noted that voters are not required to have an excuse in order to vote absentee in-person.
He added that voters should check their voter registration before heading to the polls. They can do so by calling the Bartholomew County Voter Registration and Elections Office at (812) 379-1604 or by visiting indianavoters.com. They can also refer to both of these sources if they have questions.
The website is also a location to check voting locations and every voter may check how his or her ballot will appear when voting in the general election.
Phelps advised that individuals should vote early if they want to avoid the busyness of Election Day.
“Even though we have already sent out 6,110 absentee mail ballots, we are still anticipating a record-setting turnout for this election," he said. "If voters do not want to stand in line on Election Day at the polls, it is recommended that they take advantage of early in-person voting at the FairOaks Mall.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Voter registration” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The deadline to register to vote is today.
Individuals can visit indianavoters.in.gov to register to vote, request an absentee-by-mail ballot and see who is on the ballot.
According to the Bartholomew County Clerk’s website, voters who requested printed voter registration applications must turn in those forms to the Voter Registration and Elections Office (234 Washington Street) by the close of business today if they want to be eligible to vote in the November election.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Where to early vote” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
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.
The former Carson’s store is the only early voting location. No early voting will be held at the Bartholomew County Courthouse or at Donner Center.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Where to learn more” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Anyone with questions about voting can contact the Bartholomew County Voter Registration and Elections Office at (812) 379-1604 or visit indianavoters.com.
More information about voting in Bartholomew County and Election Day sites is available at bartholomew.in.gov/clerk.html. No voting will be held at the Bartholomew County Courthouse.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
