Andy East | The Republic
Early voting for the May 3 primary is off to a fast start, with more than 2.5 times more people so far casting ballots in person or through the mail than at the same point during the 2018 midterm primary.
A total of 181 voters cast ballots in-person at the former JC Penney store at NexusPark, 2380 25th St., from Tuesday to Thursday, said Bartholomew County Clerk Shari Lentz.
Additionally, 220 voters have so far returned absentee-by-mail ballots, raising the overall turnout to 401 voters as of Thursday. As of noon Friday, 16 more people had voted at NexusPark.
By comparison, 150 votes had been cast at the same point in the 2018 midterm primary, including 117 in person and 33 absentee-by-mail ballots.
“I feel like as we get closer (to Election Day) in the coming weeks, we will see quite an increase,” Lentz said. “Our weather has not been really good so far. So, I think if we can have a nicer week next week, as they’re predicting, I feel like we’ll see a lot of folks come out and cast their ballots.”
So far, Lentz said voting has gone smoothly and there have been no reports of incidents. However, some people have gotten confused and entered the voting site seeking to file their taxes.
There also have not been any reports of long wait times. Currently, election officials are using seven voting machines at the early voting site but can set up more if turnout starts to increase, Lentz said.
In-person early voting started this past Tuesday at the former JC Penney store at NexusPark and will be held weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until April 29 and May 2 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Early voting also will be held at the former JC Penney store 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. the two Saturdays prior to election day — April 23 and April 30. No voting will be held at the Bartholomew County Courthouse.
Early-in person voting will also be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 23 and 30 in the Bartholomew County Council chambers in the Bartholomew County Governmental Office Building, 440 Third St., in downtown Columbus.
However, no early in-person voting will take place on April 15 due to all county offices being closed for Good Friday, Lentz said. In-person voting will resume April 18 at 8 a.m.
Voters can also request absentee-by-mail ballots by contacting the Bartholomew County Voter Registration Office at 812-379-1604 or by going to indianavoters.in.gov. The deadline to request an absentee-by-mail ballot is April 21.
Contested races
This year, there are several contested races.
Because it is a primary, voters must select the Republican ballot or Democratic ballot. It is not possible to vote for candidates in both parties.
On the Republican ticket, Rep. Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus, is being challenged by Bartholomew County Prosecutor William “Bill” Nash for the GOP nomination for state House District 59.
Lindsey Holden-Kay and Joshua K. Scherschel are seeking the Republican nomination for Bartholomew County prosecutor.
Three people — incumbent Scott Bonnell, Dave London and Greg Patterson — are seeking the GOP nomination for the Bartholomew County Council District 1 seat.
Incumbent Bartholomew County Council President Greg Duke is being challenged by Leah Beyer for the Republican nomination for the Bartholomew County Council District 2 seat.
Derick Olson is challenging incumbent Mark Gorbett for the Bartholomew County Council District 3 seat.
Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana is being challenged by Johnson County resident James Dean Alspach for the Republican nomination for Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District.
There are fewer contested races on the Democratic ticket. Two people — Cynthia “Cinde” Wirth and George Thomas Holland — are seeking the Democratic nomination for Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District.
Local officials are hopeful that turnout will be high given the number of contested races, with both major parties saying their bases are energized.
Lentz said she is pleased with the turnout so far and expects it to increase in the coming weeks. She said that using NexusPark may be encouraging more people to turn out because of its central location and ample parking.
In the 2020 presidential election, NexusPark proved to be a popular voting location, with a record-shattering 20,843 people turning out to vote early at the former Carson’s space.
However, midterm elections like this year often see lower turnout than presidential elections, election officials said.
