Hundreds of Hancock County voters didn’t waste any time casting their ballots as early voting for the November election began Tuesday morning at the Hancock County Courthouse.
A line extended out the doors as 390 voters cast their ballots just under a month ahead of Election Day, with a consistent line from when the doors opened at 8 a.m. to when voting ended at 4 p.m., consistently reaching out near the statue of James Whitcomb Riley that sits in front of the courthouse. County clerk Lisa Lofgreen said that the turnout was significantly higher than she’s seen in her five years in Hancock County. While she didn’t have a specific reason that she thought voters were more inclined to vote early this election cycle, she did note that increased awareness probably played a factor.
“I think that everyone’s done a good job of getting the word out, doing more voter outreach and encouraging people to get out and vote early,” Lofgreen said. “I think that both parties are to thank for staying on top of their Facebook and social media posts to be sure that people are aware.”
Lofgreen said that while she thinks most people voting early would want to do so as early as possible, she’s hopeful that early voting will continue to take place through election day.
Indiana state law requires counties to offer in-person absentee voting 28 days prior to an election, including the final two Saturdays before Election Day, with early voting ending at noon on Monday, Nov. 4.
Unlike mail-in absentee voting, which, in Indiana, can only be done by voters with disabilities, over the age of 65, or with a “specific, reasonable expectation” that they will be out of the county for the entirety of election day, in-person absentee voting does not require any reason or exception to utilize.
Only three states — Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire — do not have some form of early voting for all voters. Indiana is one of just 14 states not to allow mail-in absentee voting for any reason.
Early voting times and locations can be found in an article published by the Daily Reporter last week or under “Vote Centers” on the Hancock County Election Department website. Lofgreen highlighted the opening of the voting center at the Greenfield location of the Hancock Public Library on next Monday, Oct. 14, while all other voting centers will open the following week. Voters should also either already have received or soon be receiving vote center cards in the mail.
