Andy East | The Republic
TURNOUT for early in-person voting for the May 3 primary intensified this week, continuing to outpace turnout from four years ago.
So far, 1,444 Bartholomew County voters had cast ballots in person at the former JC Penney store at NexusPark, 2830 25th St. as of Wednesday night, according to the Bartholomew County Clerk’s Office.
An additional 737 voters have returned absentee-by-mail ballots.
Overall, 2,224 local voters have cast ballots, including votes cast via the travel board and overseas military ballots. By comparison, 886 votes had been cast at the same point in 2018.
Turnout intensified during the first three days of voting this week, with 125 early in-person votes cast on Monday and 166 cast on both Tuesday and Wednesday. The number of ballots cast each day last week ranged from 75 to 92.
“I’m very pleased with our turnout,” said Bartholomew County Clerk Shari Lentz. “It looks like all of our absentee voting is about 2.5 times what it was in 2018.”
However, voters have just a few more chances to cast ballots before the primary, which is Tuesday.
Early in-person voting will be held Friday at NexusPark from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Voting also will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at NexusPark and the Bartholomew County Governmental Office Building, 440 Third St.
The last chance to cast a ballot before the primary is Monday morning at NexusPark from 8 a.m. to noon.
So far, early voting has proceeded with any incidents or disruptions, Lentz said.
Local election officials said 222 absentee-by-mail ballots have yet to be returned.
The deadline for the bipartisan Bartholomew County Election Board to receive an absentee-by-mail ballot is 6 p.m. on Tuesday. However, the deadline to request an absentee-by-mail ballot has already passed.
At this point, election officials are encouraging people who intend to vote absentee by mail but have not yet returned their ballots to consider returning them in person at the Bartholomew County Courthouse, 234 Washington St., to avoid potential delays with the U.S. Postal Service.
Voters can call the Bartholomew County Clerk’s office at 812-379-1604 or go to indianavoters.in.gov, where you can also check your voter registration and see who is on your ballot.
But 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.
This year, there are several contested races on the Republican ticket.
Indiana 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, and both major parties saying their bases are energized.
