What appears to be the most anticipated midterm election in recent memory has finally arrived.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at 18 vote centers throughout Bartholomew County, and throughout Indiana.
On the federal level, voters in Bartholomew County will help determine the balance of political power in both chambers of Congress.
In the U. S. Senate, polls have shown incumbent Sen. Joe Donnelly of Granger in a close race with Republican challenger Mike Braun of Jasper. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Greg Pence of Columbus is seen as the favorite over Democrat Jeannine Lake of Muncie and Libertarian Thomas Ferkinhoff of Richmond, according to the The Associated Press.
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State and local
In the Indiana General Assembly, the election of a successor for retiring 59th District state representative Milo Smith has garnered much attention.
“Milo has held that seat for 12 years, and the Democrats believe this will be their best chance in a long time to win it,” said Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps, who oversees the county’s election. “Obviously, the Republicans are doing what they can to hold onto it.”
Both of the candidates — Republican Ryan Lauer and Democrat Dale Nowlin — have run unsuccessfully for Smith’s seat in the past.
In the 69th District, which includes Sand Creek Township in Bartholomew County, Democrat Steve Schoettmer of Elizabethtown has run a grassroots campaign against incumbent Jim Lucas, R-Seymour.
There are two competitive races for the Bartholomew County Council.
Republican Scott Bonnell and Democrat Hanna Omar are vying to succeed 1st District councilman Chris Ogle. In the 4th District, incumbent Republican Jorge Morales is being challenged by Democrat Lynne Fleming.
Clifford and Hope each have contested at-large council positions on the ballot.
What to expect
In order to avoid surprises, residents are urged to get a advance look at their ballot by visiting indianavoters.com prior to going to one of the vote centers.
When you arrive to cast your ballot, you will need to have a driver’s license, a state-issued identification with photo, a college ID card or a passport, Phelps said.
If your driver’s license expired after November 2016, it is still valid for voting today, Phelps said. However, if it expired before the last presidential election, poll workers cannot accept it, the clerk said.
With most IDs, a quick electronic swipe will almost instantaneously pull up your name. All you have to do is sign your name once on a poll pad before you are escorted to the next available voting machine.
While voting is always the best way to support your favorite candidate, showing that support with your apparel at a vote center is not a good idea. Poll workers won’t let you cast a ballot if you’re wearing anything that supports a specific candidate, such as stickers, buttons or T-shirts.
While there is straight-ticket voting, the ballot does have a proposed balanced budget amendment, as well as public questions regarding judicial reappointments and nonpartisan school board races that will require you to scroll and make choices, Phelps said.
Getting results
After the polls close at 6 p.m., results will start to be posted at bartholomew.in.gov and therepublic.com.
Barring unexpected glitches, early voting totals will be posted online just after the polls close, with results from Election Day voting starting to show up at about 6:30 p.m., the clerk said.
Totals from vote centers near the courthouse, such as The Commons, will likely be reported much earlier than those furthest away, such as Hope Moravian Church or White Creek Lutheran Church, Phelps said.
Phelps anticipates totals from all 18 vote centers will be posted online between 8 and 8:30 p.m.
Tallies from multiple Indiana counties will required to determine the winner of most Indiana legislative races, which the The Associated Press will be reporting throughout the night.
As polls start closing in the western U.S., several news networks will be analyzing the impact that the totals from each state will have on the U.S. Congress.
Republicans hold a 23-seat majority in the 435-seat House, far wider than their two-seat majority in the 100-seat Senate.
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VOTING HOURS
Election Day polls will be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at 18 vote centers in Bartholomew County.
MUST-KNOW INFO
- An Indiana driver’s license, Indiana photo ID card, United States passport, military ID or a state university-issued photo ID can be accepted to vote. An out-of-state driver’s license cannot be accepted. The local Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch, 745 Schnier Drive, will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. today for people who need a driver’s license or state ID card.
- When you arrive at one of the county’s 18 vote centers, the first posted sign you can expect to see is a reminder to turn off cell phones. Signs will also remind voters that they cannot wear clothing, buttons or hats that have political messages.
- Your signature will be required on an electronic pad before you are allowed to get in line to vote.
- If there are people waiting to vote, make sure to sign in with the election inspectors before joining the line. Once you sign in, you cannot switch to another vote center if there is a long line. A map will be available at each vote center to show where other vote centers are located.
- According to state law, a voter is given two minutes to vote on a voting machine. Each voter should review his or her ballot ahead of time to reduce confusion and any questions. A voter can go online at indianavoters.com and click on “Who’s on Your Ballot,” to review their ballot.
- The wait to vote should amount to roughly one minute for each person who is ahead of you, poll workers at Donner Center estimated.
- Voters who are in line at 6 p.m. at a voting center when the polls close will be allowed to vote.
JOIN THE PARTY
The Bartholomew County Republican Party will hold its election night watch party, beginning at 6 p.m. today at the Factory 12 Event Loft, 1235 Jackson St.
The Bartholomew County Democratic Party will hold its election night watch party at its party headquarters, at 1417 Chestnut St.
RIDES TO THE POLLS
Here are phone numbers to call today for rides to Bartholomew County voting centers.
- Republican: 812-350-5124
- Democrat: 812-418-8594
CONNECT WITH THE REPUBLIC
Follow Election Day developments in Bartholomew County online at therepublic.com, then check back after the polls close at 6 p.m. today and throughout the evening for voting updates as they come in.
Share your election day stories with The Republic by email at [email protected]
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The following vote centers in Bartholomew County will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday:
- Flintwood Wesleyan Church, 5300 25th St., Columbus
- St. John’s Masonic Lodge, 4131 Rocky Ford Road, Columbus
- Grace Lutheran Church, 3201 Central Ave., Columbus
- Healing Waters Church, 2330 Midway St., Columbus
- Donner Center, 739 22nd St., Columbus
- Columbus Township Fire Station, 935 Repp Drive, Columbus
- The Commons, 300 Washington St., Columbus
- German American Bank, 2310 W. Jonathan Moore Pike, Columbus
- Terrace Lake Church, 4260 W. 200S, Columbus
- Faith Lutheran Church, 6000 W. State Road 46, Columbus
- Bartholomew County REMC, 1697 W. Deaver Road, Columbus
- Elizabethtown Fire Station, 10203 E. Legal Tender, Elizabethtown
- Shiloh Baptist Church, 11988 E. State Road 46, Columbus
- Hope Moravian Church, 202 Main St., Hope
- Clifford Fire Station, 7850 N Depot St., Clifford
- German Twp. Fire Station, 9428 Main St., Taylorsville
- Southwest Fire Station, 8500 S. State Road 58, Ogilville
- White Creek Lutheran Church, 16270 S. 300 W., Columbus
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Find out where and when you can cast ballots today, along with other need-to-know information about voting. Page A6.
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