Features
Related Photos
-
Adam Huening
Time to make a decision: Absentee voting currently underway at courthouse
With a full slate of Republicans vying for local offices and Democrat senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton fighting for the hearts and minds of Indiana voters, Decatur County Clerk Janet Chadwell expected to see more ballots cast.
As of Friday morning, 178 voters have made it to the courthouse to vote absentee. That brings the total, with mail-ins, to 302 for this year’s primary, a number Chadwell finds low after two full weeks of open voting.
“I expected more people because of the presidential and gubernatorial races,” she said.
In the last presidential election of 2004, 325 ballots were cast before the polls opened on the first Tuesday of May. Chadwell noted, in that election, Indiana voters didn’t have much of a say in who would be running for president. This year is different.
“It’s the whole idea behind the system, which is to have choices,” Chadwell said.
There are plenty of choices, she noted. Indiana voters can make a difference in which of the two Democrats will likely face Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the November elections as well as which of two Democrats, Jill Long-Thompson or Jim Schellinger, will face Gov. Mitch Daniels on the ballot. On the Republican side, both Commissioner Distrct 1 and 3 seats are up for grabs with two opponents each facing the incumbents as well as a Republican race for Superior Court Judge and Surveyor.
Chadwell encouraged voters to get involved and take advantage of absentee voting, which she described as a quicker, more relaxed way to take part opposed to the possible chaos of election day.
“There are typically no lines, the courthouse is centrally located and if a machine goes down here, we’ve got plenty to back it up,” Chadwell said.
She also noted with a change in the law, a reason for voting absentee is no longer necessary. All a registered voter needs is a current photo id. Hours for absentee voting at the courthouse are from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 4 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, and from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 5 p.m. on Friday. There will also be special Saturday sessions from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 26 and May 3. The last day to vote absentee is noon on Monday, May 5.
Voters must choose either a Democrat or Republican ticket to cast their ballot and they can only vote once, she added. Through Thursday, 130 voters have cast for the Democrats and 153 have voted Republican. Chadwell noted the rule can keep some people away from the primaries, but she felt now more than ever, people need to come out en masse to do their civic duty.
“A lot of people don’t like to declare their party, so they don’t come in to vote. That could keep voter numbers down,” she said. “Most of them say they’d rather see who gets picked and vote in November, but they have a decision in who is on the ballot this year. It’s like I always say, if you don’t vote you can’t gripe.”
- Features
-
-
Parents, Children With Eye Condition Defy Stigmatisms
Toddlers frolicked across the trampolines at Gymnastics and More, Saturday, the sounds of their laughter adding to the festivity of 2-year-old Anastasia Ridzon's birthday party.
-
Fall Festival Committee Preparing For Big Time Fun
With September only a day away, the fall season will be following right on its heels. This fall, however, is already set to be bigger and better than others before it, at least where festivals are concerned.
-
State's Revolutionary Daughters Converge On City
The Lone Tree Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution served as the host chapter for a district meeting at First Baptist Church of Greensburg, Saturday.
-
High-Heeled Fashion Brings In Bucks For New Directions
As the day started to heat up on Saturday, so did the competitive spirit at the third annual Walk a Mile In Her Shoes fundraiser for New Directions of Decatur County.
-
Local Residents Prepare To Put On Women's Shoes For Good Cause
-
Little Philanthropist Changes Lives With One Snip
-
Balloon's Message Lifts Spirits
-
YMCA Set To Ride For Youth This Saturday
-
Indiana's Second-In-Command May Be Poised To Take Over State's Top Job
-
Local Deltas Join Sisters For National Convention
- More Features Headlines
-
