Mike Wolanin | The Republic Poll worker Leslie Trobaugh helps Jenny Trulock check in to vote on first day of early voting at the vote center inside NexusPark in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
Tuesday is the primary, in which political parties will select their nominees for city offices for the ballot this fall.
Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or independent, here is what you need to know if you plan to head to the polls and later want to know when to expect the results.
Where to vote
Voters may stop at any of the city’s vote centers that will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following locations:
- Flintwood Wesleyan Church, 5300 25th St. in Columbus
- St. Johns Masonic Lodge, 4131 Rocky Ford Road in Columbus
- NexusPark (formerly FairOaks Mall), 2288 25th St. in Columbus
- Donner Center, 739 22nd St. in Columbus
- River of Living Water Christian Church (formerly Berean Bible), 51 N. Brooks St. in Columbus
- Bartholomew County Government Office Building, 440 Third St. in Columbus
- Terrace Lake Church, 4260 W. County Road 200S in Columbus
- Westside Community Church, 124 Tipton Lakes Blvd. in Columbus
Requirements to vote
Only registered voters who live within the Columbus city limits will be eligible to vote in this primary. Voters also need a valid photo ID, which can be an Indiana driver’s license, Indiana state ID, passport, military ID or state college photo ID, officials said.
For questions about ID requirements, 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.
The local branch of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 4445 Ray Boll Blvd., will have extended hours today from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for people who need driver’s licenses or identification cards to vote, according to the BMV’s website.
How the primary works
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.
If you experience problems or have questions while at a vote center, Bartholomew County Clerk Shari Lentz said voters should speak to a poll worker, who will then contact the Bartholomew County Clerk’s office if necessary.
Voters may vote at any one of the eight voting centers.
Absentee-by-mail ballots must be received by the bipartisan Bartholomew County Election Board by 6 p.m. Tuesday. Voters can return them in person at the Bartholomew County Courthouse, 234 Washington St.
At this point, local election officials are advising voters who wish to vote absentee by mail but have not yet put their ballot in the mail to return their ballot in person.
Voters can visit indianavoters.in.gov to check their registration and see who is on there ballot.
What is at stake
The municipal primary will be the first step for voters to choose the next mayor of Columbus. Current Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop is not seeking another term.
Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration and community development, and Milo Smith, a former Indiana state representative, are both seeking the Republican nomination for mayor. While there is currently no Democratic candidate for mayor, the party could still select a candidate for the general election by July 3 at noon.
On the Democratic side, there is a contested race for the party’s nomination for Columbus City Council District 3. Tony Hayden, Michael Kinder and current District 1 Councilman Jerone Wood are the candidates.
The winner of the Democratic nomination will face Republican Sue Norman-Chapple in the general election. Normal-Chapple is running unopposed in the Republican primary.
Expected turnout
Local election officials have said that they are hopeful for high turnout this year, though fewer voters generally cast ballots in off-year municipal elections than in presidential and midterm elections.
However, as of this past Wednesday, turnout was more than double what it was at the same point in the 2019 municiapl election, according to figures from the Bartholomew County Clerk’s Office.
A total of 1,372 people had cast ballots in person at NexusPark or the Bartholomew County Government Office Building, compared to 580 votes cast at the same point in 2019.
Additionally, 217 people had voted absentee by mail as of Wednesday, compared to 111 at the same point four years ago.
In total, 1,589 people had voted as of Wedesday, or about 5% of registered voters in Columbus.
Just 13.7% of registered voters turned out for the 2019 municipal primary, which had more competitive races than this year’s primary, local records show.
“I hope that we’ll have a good turnout,” Lentz said. “I feel like perhaps a lot of people are waiting to vote on election day. I feel like we’ll see a steady turnout on election day.”
The results will be posted on the Bartholomew County Clerk’s website: bartholomew.in.gov/clerk. Lentz said she expect the results to be tabulated “fairly early” on election night.
For more updates, see Tuesday’ Republic.
