GREENFIELD — As the period to request an absentee ballot draws to a close next week, more early voting centers will available around Hancock County starting Monday, Oct. 19.
Nearly 7,000 county voters have already cast their ballots.
By the end of the day on Wednesday, Oct. 14, a total of 3,113 Hancock County residents had already voted in person at the county annex. The county election office had received 6,421 requests for mail-in absentee ballots, and 3,720 of those ballots had already been returned.
In order for an absentee ballot request to be processed, it must be received by the Hancock County Election Office by Oct. 22. The request form can be found online at indianavoters.com. As the window to turn in a request closes, bringing it to the Election Office at the Hancock County Courthouse or emailing it to [email protected] may be better options than sending it by mail.
When returning a ballot by mail, Hancock County Clerk Lisa Lofgreen advised sending it at least seven to 10 days before Election Day, which is Nov. 3.
Mail-in ballots are not available to every Indiana voter, but many do qualify, including voters over 65, anyone with a disability, and people who will be out of the county on Election Day.
In-person early voting, however, is open to anyone registered to vote in Hancock County, and anyone can vote at any of the vote centers.
Lofgreen said early voting at the county annex, the only location that has been available, has been going well. Lines to vote have consistently wrapped around the front of the building.
“It’s been very busy,” Lofgreen said.
The wait in line has averaged 40 to 45 minutes, Lofgreen said, and about 400 voters per day have been showing up. The county’s poll workers are able to process one voter every 90 seconds, on average.
This coming week, the election office will mail out vote center cards to all registered voters informing them of the hours and locations for both the remainder of the early voting period and Election Day.
Early voting will continue to be available at the county annex and will begin Monday, Oct. 19 at the Greenfield and New Palestine locations of the Hancock County Public Library, Fortville Community Center, and Buck Creek Township Fire Department.
On Election Day, five additional polling places will be available: NineStar Connect North, Nameless Creek Camp and Event Center, Wilkinson Church of Christ, McCordsville Town Hall, and Cross of Grace Lutheran Church.
Lofgreen said voters who want to make sure they know ahead of time which races will appear on their ballots can check by entering their information at indianavoters.com. She also reminded voters to make sure they look at both sides of the ballot: races are also listed on the reverse side.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Vote center schedule” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Early voting
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., Mt. Comfort)
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 Christian Church, 7293 State Road 109, Wilkinson
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Valid reasons to request a mail-in ballot ” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
If you wish to vote by mail in the 2020 general election, you must go to indianavoters.gov and fill out an application including a recognized “excuse” for not voting in person. Applications must be submitted by Oct. 22.
You will receive your ballot by mail and can either return it by mail or by taking it to the Hancock County Election Office during business hours.
Valid reasons for requesting a mail-in ballot include:
-You will be absent from the county on Election Day during all hours that polls are open
-You are confined to your residence, a health care facility or a hospital due to illness or injury
-You are caring for someone confined to a private residence due to illness or injury
-You are a voter with disabilities
-You are at least 65 years old
-You have official election duties outside your own voting precinct
-You are scheduled to work during the entire period polls are open on Election Day
-You are unable to vote in person due to observance of a religious discipline or holiday
-You are a member of the military or a public safety officer
-Your voter registration lists an incorrect address, but you are eligible to vote under “fail-safe” statutes
-You are a serious sex offender
-You are unable to access transportation to the polls
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Inside” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Find guidance for mail-in voting and learn where you can go to vote in person as more polling sites open. Page A7
[sc:pullout-text-end]