GREENFIELD — The line to vote early at the Hancock County Annex wound around the front of the building Wednesday, Oct. 7, the second day voters were able to cast their ballots in person. Voters in line were largely wearing masks, and a poll worker routinely came outside to address the crowd about the specifics of early voting procedure.
Early, in-person voting is off to a brisk start in the county. On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the first day of early voting, 442 ballots were cast at the annex, the only vote center currently open. It was the highest turnout on a first day of voting that local officials could recall, Hancock County Clerk Lisa Lofgreen said.
“It was very busy all day, and I’m very excited about it,” she said.
Lofgreen attributed the high turnout to the media making voters more aware that they did not have to wait for Election Day to cast a vote amid the COVID-19 pandemic; and to the high level of interest in the presidential race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
The number of requests for mail-in absentee ballots is unusually high as well. Lofgreen reported Tuesday that her office had received 6,300 applications for mail-in ballots, and 3,100 had already been returned.
Unlike mail-in voting, which requires one of 13 state-approved excuses, in-person early voting is available to any registered Indiana voter.
At the annex on Tuesday, the line was moving quickly.
“I came out to vote today to prevent myself from standing in long lines on Election Day, and I knew the line would probably be long wherever we go,” Erricka Graham said. “I was just trying to get in as early as possible and avoid all the chaos.”
Graham said she was not surprised to see a long line even during early voting, and was happy there weren’t as many people waiting as there had been Tuesday in Marion County, where local news sources reported a record number of early voters waiting in line for hours at the only polling place available.
Some voters in line said they were casting ballots early because they planned to be out of town on Election Day, and did not want to utilize mail-in voting. Others were excited to cast their votes for a specific candidate.
Phil Miller, a former Hancock County Libertarian Party chairman and Greenfield City Council member, was eager to vote for Libertarians Donald Rainwater, running for governor; and Jo Jorgenson, running for president. A recent poll showed that 24% of likely Indiana voters favored Rainwater, an unusually large level of support for a third-party candidate in Indiana.
“If the present governor keeps trying to ruin the economy, we should do well,” Miller said, referencing Gov. Eric Holcomb’s policies in response to COVID-19.
Glenda Smith was excited to vote to re-elect Trump.
“I’m voting for freedom and gun rights and just a better America,” she said.
Lofgreen said the first day of early voting went smoothly. When the polls opened at 8 a.m., some voters began to line up inside the county annex, but poll workers were able to redirect them to line up outside the building within the first hour. A handful of voters’ names did not show up in the computer system poll workers use to verify identities, but this was resolved by calling the county clerk’s office, where their names could be verified in the Statewide Voter Registration System.
On both Tuesday and Wednesday, most voters appeared to be wearing masks to the polls, but not all were maintaining social distance of 6 feet as they waited in line outside. Lofgreen said wearing personal protective equipment to vote is encouraged.
“We would like people to wear their masks, but it’s not a reason to not allow someone to vote,” Lofgreen said.
Inside the annex, and in other vote centers once they open, masks and gloves will be available to voters who would like to wear them. “Sanitizers” recruited by local party chairs are also working to keep surfaces clean. They are sanitizing voting booths, pens, and the poll pads used to check identifications between each use.
Early voting at the annex will be available on all weekdays through Oct. 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will also be open Saturday, Oct. 24; and Saturday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as Monday, Nov. 2, from 8 a.m. to noon.
The annex will be the only vote center open until Oct. 19. After that, early voting hours will also be available at the two locations of the Hancock County Public Library; at the Fortville Community Center; and at Buck Creek Township Fire Department. On Election Day, 10 vote centers around the county will be available. Any Hancock County registered voter can cast a ballot at any vote center.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Vote center schedule” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Here is where you can vote before Election Day:
Hancock County Annex — 111 American Legion Place, Greenfield
Weekdays, Oct. 6-30, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to noon
Hancock County Public Library — 900 W. McKenzie Rd., Greenfield; and 5731 U.S. 52, New Palestine
Weekdays, Oct. 19-30, 2-7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Nov. 1, 1-4 p.m.
Fortville Community Center, 400 W. Church St., Fortville; and Buck Creek Township Fire Department 5809 W. Airport Blvd., Greenfield
Weekdays, Oct. 19-30, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Nov. 1, 1-4 p.m.
All of the above locations will be open on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. These vote centers also will be open on Election Day:
-NineStar Connect North, 2331 E. County Road 600N, Greenfield
-Nameless Creek Camp and Event Center, 2675 S. County Road 600E, Greenfield
-Wilkinson Church of Christ, 7293 State Road 109, Wilkinson
-McCordsville Town Hall, 6280 W. County Road 800N, McCordsville
-Cross of Grace Lutheran Church, 3519 S. County 600W, New Palestine
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Mail-in voting ” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Not every voter can request a mail-in ballot, but many can, including anyone who is over age 65, has a disability, or will not be in Hancock County on Election Day.
Ballots can be requested via mail (to the Election Office, 9 East Main Street, Greenfield, IN 46140), by fax (to 317-477-8683) or online at IndianaVoters.com.
Ballot requests must be received before midnight on Oct. 22.
If you prefer not to return your ballot by mail, you can do so in person at the Hancock County Election Office during business hours, or at the Hancock County Annex during early voting hours. A form is also available at the Election Office which will allow a family member or other caregiver to return your ballot for you.
Ballots must be returned before Election Day, Nov. 3, at noon.
If you have requested a mail-in ballot, you may not vote in person unless you bring the ballot with you to the polls and fill out a form to have it declared invalid.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Inside” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Information about early in-person voting and casting an absentee ballot is on Page A5.
[sc:pullout-text-end]