Mike Wolanin | The Republic Andrea Orben votes at Donner Center on Election Day in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.
Early in-person voting for the May 7 primary increased this past week, though only around 2% of registered voters have cast ballots so far, according to the Bartholomew County Clerk’s Office.
A total of 338 people voted early in-person from Monday to Thursday, up from 241 people over the same stretch the week before, said Bartholomew County Elections Administrator Taylor Seagraves.
Overall, a total of 866 people have voted at Donner Center since early voting started earlier this month. In addition, 287 people have returned absentee-by-mail ballots, raising the total number of ballots cast to 1,153.
That comes out to about 2% of the county’s 52,481 registered voters.
“(Turnout) is a little lighter (than expected), but it is encouraging to see that this week we had an uptick,” Seagraves said. “We just hope that next week there is even more of one.”
Early in-person voting will continue weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Donner Center, 739 22nd St., through Friday. On Saturday, early in-person voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Donner Center and the Bartholomew County Government Office Building and 8 a.m. to noon at Donner Center on May 6, the day before the election.
Because it is a primary, voters must choose either the Republican ballot or the Democratic ballot. It is not possible to vote for candidates in both parties. The winners in the primary will secure their party’s nomination to run for office in the general election this fall.
