COLUMBUS, Ind. — Turnout in Bartholomew County for the 2022 primary was lower than four years ago despite early voting getting off to a faster start, local election officials said.
At one point during early voting, turnout this year was 2.5 times what it was in 2018 during the previous midterm primary. However, 3,502 fewer people ended up participating in this year’s primary.
Overall, 8,802 voters cast ballots for the 2022 primary, or 16.7% of registered voters, according to the Bartholomew County Clerk’s Office. By comparison, 12,304 people voted in the 2018 midterm primary, or 24.7% of registered voters.
On Tuesday, 5,439 people turned out to cast ballots in person, while 2,532 people voted early in person and 831 people voted absentee-by-mail.
Weather may have played a factor, local election officials said. Voting got off to a slow start Tuesday morning but picked up once the rain cleared up.
“I was hoping for a bigger turnout than what we saw,” said Bartholomew County Clerk Shari Lentz. “I was hoping we’d be closer to 2018 or surpass that, but that of course didn’t happen. So, I am disappointed by that but just thankful for the folks that did come out and cast their ballots and looking forward to a fun general election.”
