COLUMBUS, Ind. — Local election officials have said that 1,218 people had cast ballots in today’s municipal primary as of around 1 p.m.
Additionally, 2,256 people voted early in person or absentee by mail during the early voting period, which ended Monday at noon.
That brings total turnout as of around 1 p.m. to roughly 11.5% of registered voters. By comparison, total turnout for the 2019 municipal primary was 13.7%.
In-person voting will continue today until 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
Absentee-by-mail ballots must be received by the bipartisan Bartholomew County Election Board by 6 p.m. today. Voters can return them in person at the Bartholomew County Courthouse, 234 Washington St.
Today’s 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.
