COLUMBUS, Ind. — Tuesday brought a low morning turnout on the first day of early voting in the primary for Bartholomew County, election officials said.
At NexusPark, 2380 25th St., only 13 votes had been cast during the first two hours at the voting center inside the former JC Penney store, Bartholomew County Democratic Party chairman Steve Schoettmer said.
By noon, only 16 Republicans and 12 Democrats had cast their ballots during the morning hours, Republican election clerk Jerry Simo said.
Schoettmer, who is also a Democratic election judge, said voters may have gotten confused with all the new fencing and construction equipment on the west side of the former mall.
“I knew I was supposed to park in the parking lot, but I went down to the former Carson’s parking lot only to find this big fence,” Schoettmer said. “I wasn’t sure where to go until I saw the campaign signs and discovered I was one parking lot over from where I should be.”
During the noon hour, only four more residents cast their ballots during what is usually a busy period when first day voting took place at the Bartholomew County Courthouse.
One of those four was Nancy Ann Pence Fritsch, the mother of Indiana Sixth District Congressman Greg Pence, R-Indiana, and former Vice-President Mike Pence.
Fritsch said she found it surprising that there is only one sheriff’s candidate (Republican Chris Lane), and that choosing convention delegates was the toughest thing on the ballot.
Pence Fritsch also campaigned a bit for her oldest son, Greg, who is seeking his third consecutive term representing the U.S. 6th District.
“You know he has never missed a vote standing there at his desk?” Pence Fritsch said. “Other people stay away and let somebody else vote on a bill, but Gregory has never missed a vote since he’s been there.”
For the complete story and more photos, see Wednesday’s Republic.
