Mike Wolanin | The Republic A Vote Centers banner and vote here sign are seen outside the vote center in NexusPark on the first day of early voting in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Twice as many Columbus voters cast ballots early for Tuesday’s primary compared to the previous municipal primary, according to figures from the Bartholomew County Clerk’s Office.
As of noon Monday, the end of early voting, a total of 1,995 people had cast ballots in person at NexusPark or the Bartholomew County Government Office Building, compared to 1,051 people who voted early in-person in the 2019 municipal primary. Early in-person voting was held at the Bartholomew County Courthouse four years ago.
Additionally, local election officials have received 261 completed absentee-by-mail ballots, up from 126 at the same point four years ago.
In total, 2,256 voters have already cast ballots in one way or another, or about 7.5% of registered voters in Columbus, up from 1,181 ballots cast at the end of the early voting period in 2019, or 4% of registered voters at the time.
Total turnout for the 2019 municipal primary was 13.7%.
The May 2 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.
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.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
