HANCOCK COUNTY — A lack of choices on Tuesday’s primary ballot might have kept some voters at home, party officials say, as the county saw its worst primary turnout in over a decade.
Tuesday’s primary election drew 2,062 voters in Hancock County’s municipal elections in Greenfield, Fortville, McCordsville and Cumberland. According to county election data and the Daily Reporter archive, that’s the fewest number of people to show up to a May primary since 2003.
The low turnout was visible at many of the county’s vote centers. Just eight people voted between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. at the Hancock County Public Library — the most popular vote center in Greenfield. By 5 p.m. on Tuesday, a total of 12 people cast ballots at Adaggio’s Banquet Center in Sugar Creek Township.
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In McCordsville, 67 people voted in the town’s only contested town council race for District 1.
The 2011 primary election — highlighted by a GOP Greenfield mayoral re-match between the late Dick Pasco and Brad DeReamer — drew 3,269 total county voters. In 2015, 2,703 voted in the May primary. That election also included a mayoral contest of Republicans Chuck Fewell and Judy Swift. According to Daily Reporter archives, 2,479 Greenfield residents voted in 2007 and 1,044 voted in 2003.
Janice Silvey, chairwoman for the Hancock County Republican Party, said mayoral contests typically drive people to vote in municipal election years. That was the case in 2007, 2011 and 2015. She didn’t see as many campaign signs in Greenfield as in past elections, nor did she get the sense many voters were aware of the council races.
“I just think it was lack of interest. You hate to say that, but they’ll all be out next year, I’m quite sure,” Silvey said, alluding to the much anticipated 2020 presidential election between President Donald J. Trump and one of more than 20 Democrats who plan to run in next year’s primary.
Hancock County Clerk Lisa Lofgreen said she expects the turnout to increase in the general election. There’s a contested mayoral race between Fewell and Democrat Zachary LaFavers, and voters can cast ballots for elections in Shirley and New Palestine, two towns that are too small to hold primaries.
Of the 2,062 ballots cast, 166 people voted in the Democratic primary. There were no contested Democratic races in the entire county. That’s appearing to be the norm in a mostly Republican county.
Randy Johnson, chairman of the Hancock County Democratic Party, said it’s difficult to find Democrats to run in both primary and general elections. He heard from a few voters who were disappointed in the county not having any contested Democratic races, and some vote center officials told him that a few traditional Democratic voters decided to pull the Republican ballot so they could vote in a contested race.
“It’s hard enough to find one candidate, but we’re trying to find two to give it a contest is even harder,” Johnson said. “At times it’s overwhelming, but we want to give people an option and a choice, and that’s what elections are all about.”
Two Greenfield Democrats are running in the general election in November: LaFavers and Chris Beushausen, who’s running for the city council District 1 seat against Republican Gary McDaniel. Johnson said there are a few other people who are interested in other races.
If a Democrat does plan to file, Johnson will appoint the person to fill the vacancy before June 30. That’s also the filing deadline for any Independent candidates.
In Fortville on Tuesday, more than 450 people turned out to vote, according to the county’s election results. Three newcomers snagged GOP nominations in the election, taking out two incumbents.
Marybeth Sears, election inspector in Fortville, said voters ebbed and flowed throughout the morning and early afternoon on Election Day. Rita Johnson, a poll worker, said she was surprised by the attendance.
“It’s been a better turnout than I thought it would be today,” she said.
Sears agreed, adding she predicted Fortville would amass a total of 300 votes — a figure that was surpassed by about midday. The final election results indicate nearly a quarter of county voters cast ballots in Fortville.
After voting at the Hancock County Annex on Tuesday afternoon, Michael Faith, of Greenfield, said he came out to the primary to show support to Fewell and clerk-treasurer Lori Elmore, even though both were running unopposed. On “off-year” elections like on Tuesday, Faith said it’s still important to vote.
Faith said he used to live on the east side of Indianapolis, and he decided to move to Greenfield a few years ago. He wanted to support the officeholders who he believes are working to progress the city.
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Uncontested races in Tuesday’s primary
GOP
Greenfield
Mayor: Chuck Fewell — 1,089
Clerk-Treasurer: Lori Elmore — 1,082
City Council District 1: Gary McDaniel — 254
Council District 3: George Plisinski II — 105
City Council District 4: Jeff Lowder — 226
City Council District 5: Kerry Grass — 198
Fortville
Clerk-Treasurer: Missy Glazier — 408
McCordsville
Clerk-Treasurer: Staci A. Starcher — 167
Town Council District 1: Branden Williams — 27
Town Council District 3: Larry J. Longman — 67
Cumberland
Clerk-Treasurer: Erica Salmon: 50
Town Judge: Michael R. Franceschini: 49
Town Council District 3: Anna Pea — 13
Town Council District 5: Joseph Siefker — 25
Democratic
Greenfield
Mayor: Zachary LaFavers — 116
City Council District 1: Christopher Beushausen — 28
Cumberland
Town Council District 4: J. Aaron Cutshaw — 1
Source: Hancock County Election Office
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