Candidates make final pitches for votes amid low early turnout

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GREENFIELD — As Tuesday’s election draws near, voters are hitting the polls early while candidates make final pitches to capture support.

So far, early voting has been slow, Hancock County Clerk Marcia Moore said. As of noon Friday, 113 votes had been cast at the early voting centers opened this week. McCordsville Town Hall, Fortville Community Center and Hancock County Courthouse will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and Monday for early voting.

Only residents living in Fortville and Shirley will have a townwide election as they select their next clerk-treasurers. Voters living in Cumberland’s District 5, which serves about 700 Hancock County homes, will vote in Marion County.

In Greenfield, voters who live in District 5 will be the only city residents who cast a ballot this election.

Incumbent Republican Kerry Grass and challenger Donna Steele plan to spend the weekend campaigning in the district. They both say they’re feeling optimistic about Tuesday’s outcome.

Grass, a lifelong Hancock County resident who has lived in Greenfield for 15 years, is seeking a third term on the council. He currently serves as the council president and oversees the budget process.

Steele has lived in Hancock County for nearly five years and purchased a home in District 5 about two years ago. She’s involved with Greenfield Main Street and the Greenfield Coalition and is seeking ways to be more involved in the community.

Both say they’ll spend the weekend going door to door to meet with voters, and they’ll also be out on election day.

Grass said he’s feeling positive about Tuesday, adding that he’s heard good feedback from his neighbors. He encouraged residents to get out and vote.

“I know it’s a one-district race,” he said. “But it’s everybody’s right to vote, and I really feel they should.”

Steele has campaigned all week and said she’d be out, rain or shine, to meet with people in her district during the weekend and on Election Day.

“I’m feeling very positive,” she said. “The momentum is growing.”

In Fortville, Republican Sherry Durbin, who ousted incumbent Marcie Stafford during the primary election, faces independents Tonya Drake Davis and Jeff Ratliff for the clerk-treasurer seat. There’s also a race for the District 1 town council seats in which four candidates are vying for two seats. Incumbents Janet Manship and Ron Stafford face independents Pat Calhoun and Lenzy Hendrix.

In Shirley, three candidates are looking to replace Marla Kemerly, who has run the office for two decades and isn’t running for re-election.

On Tuesday, only three vote centers will be open: Fortville Community Center, Wilkinson Church of Christ and the Hancock County Courthouse Annex. Residents can vote at any of them from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The election office reminds people they need a photo ID to cast a ballot.

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1. When and where can I vote?

Polls are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, but vote centers in Fortville, Greenfield and McCordsville will have early voting hours through Monday. See the map of places and times for early voting.

2. Don’t forget a form of ID.

You need a photo ID like an Indiana driver license, Indiana photo ID, military ID or U.S. passport to cast a ballot. You can pick up an ID at an Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch.

3. Want to know the results?

On Election Day, stick with the Daily Reporter for updates. You can visit greenfieldreporter.com or the Daily Reporter’s Facebook and Twitter pages for breaking news. Complete coverage of the election will appear in Wednesday’s edition of the Daily Reporter.

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