It is Election Day in Johnson County. Follow along here for live updates from the polls, which are set to close at 6 p.m.
4:45 p.m., The Nest, Greenwood
About eight people waited in line at the Nest Tuesday afternoon, but voting machines were readily available and people were in and out in about five minutes.
That’s been the way traffic had been pretty much all day, poll inspector Robert Overton said.
“We haven’t had a waiting line of more than just a few people to see a clerk, and we’ve always had plenty of machines available,” he said.
For Greenwood resident Justin Hill, it was a welcome change from the last major election he voted in. It was 2018 when voting machine failure and a large turnout resulted in him waiting 2 ½ hours to cast his ballot.
“That wasn’t a fun day. I still voted though,” he said.
But even the prospect of a long wait wasn’t going to prevent him from coming to the polls and choosing the candidates he felt would be best.
“It’s my American duty. We have these rights to vote, so we need to use them for our Democratic process. Otherwise, there’s no point,” he said.
In the midst of the pandemic, Hill had planned on doing a mail-in ballot this year. But in the chaos of the past few weeks, he missed the deadline.
“I got too busy with corona hitting and a lot of life things. I definitely would have preferred to do the mail-in, but this wasn’t too bad,” he said.
— Ryan Trares
3:40 p.m., Mt. Auburn United Methodist Church, White River Township
As the afternoon heat ramped up, campaigners sat in the shade ready to thank voters and answer any questions they might have in regards to the candidates they were representing.
Bob Dine was outside the church in support of David Hopper, a Republican candidate for District 58 in the Indiana House of Representatives. This was the second place he had been at campaigning for Hopper.
He was glad to see so many voters come out to the polls in person.
“It’s been a long day. Steady, but not overwhelming,” he said. “One thing is, the voters don’t want to see any of us or talk to any of us. They go right in. It seems like they already know what they’re doing and what they want, before they even come out here. And I appreciate that.”
Jennifer Wilson Reagan had been to two other vote centers campaigning for District 58 candidate Michelle Davis on Tuesday before coming to Mt. Auburn. Each of them had a consistent stream of voters, up until late afternoon, she said.
“This is really the first time it’s been dead,” she said. “We were expecting it to be slow all day, but that hasn’t been the case for the first half of the day.
— Ryan Trares
3:30 p.m., Mt. Auburn United Methodist Church, White River Township
All day Tuesday, a steady stream of voters had come into the poll here to cast their ballot in person, poll inspector Mike Medlock said.
More than 600 people had been the vote center.
“We really didn’t know what to expect, with a lot of absentee voting and everything else. It’s been quite different,” Medlock said.
Safety measures such as face masks, hand sanitizer and glass partitions had been established in accordance with safety precautions against COVID-19. The poll workers at Mt. Auburn were able to come to the church on Monday to get everything set up, so at 6 a.m. on Election Day they were ready to serve the public, Medlock said.
“We worked about an hour and a half, two hours, and that was really helpful in getting everything ready this morning. A lot of places weren’t able to do that, because the places they were going to be voting were closed yesterday,” he said.
— Ryan Trares
2:10 p.m., Greenwood Public Library, Greenwood
With four poll workers checking in voters and 22 voting machines available, lines at the Greenwood Public Library have moved quickly all day, said Chris Sifers, election inspector for the polling place.
By 2:10 p.m. 674 votes had been cast at the center, he said.
“Things are actually very smooth. I expected it to be pretty steady. People have been cooped up for a long time so this gives them a chance to get out of the house for a good reason,” Sifers said. “It has been constant … We will be way past 700 (votes) by the end.”
Social distancing was easy to accomplish while waiting to vote, but the single entry and exit door created somewhat of a bottleneck with several voters arriving and leaving at the same time.
“We are taking all of the precautions and making sure everyone is safe,” Sifers said.
Several voters who cast their ballots around 2 p.m. said the pandemic could never keep them away from their civic duty.
Greenwood resident Kevin Chaney made it a priority to stop by on his lunch hour to cast his vote for President Donald Trump and down ballot Republicans, he said.
“I have never missed voting since I turned 18 … It is important to me. It is your right. You don’t have a voice if you don’t vote,” Chaney said.
Greenwood husband and wife Jeff and Donna Daniel said voting is a tradition they weren’t going to pass up.
“I didn’t want to break a string. I’ve voted ever since I was old enough to vote, in primaries and in regular elections. I feel it is my duty. I can’t gripe about anything unless I vote,” Donna Daniel said.
Daniel cast her vote for people who she feels will look out for her best interests.
“For our local representatives, I want somebody in there who is going to think about the people they are representing, not just about their own little issues,” Daniel said.
Elizabeth Opke cast a Democrat ballot because she believes former Vice President Joe Biden and down ballot Democrats will help equalize the system for African Americans.
“I came out to vote today to ensure that changes are made and that we all can have a voice in the community. I want to be a part of that,” Opke said. “I’m looking for changes within the police departments to ensure that people are not harmed. I am looking for changes where we will be treated equally within the workplace and also just in general.”
— Leeann Doerflein
12:45 p.m., White River Public Library, Greenwood
A steady stream of voters filed into the White River branch of the Johnson County Public Library during lunch. Passionate campaigners for state representative and county council races lined the sidewalk into the library.
Wendy and Linda Farrar, of Southport, were happy to tell voters about their friend and Republican candidate for the District 93 State Representative post, John Jacob. The district covers parts of the southside of Indianapolis, Greenwood and Center Grove area.
“He is a really good guy. He stands for abolition of abortion, second amendment gun rights and following the constitution,” Wendy Farrar said. “He has been on the campaign trail since he announced … He has really hit on all the points that people want to change.”
“He has been a southsider his whole life,” Linda Farrar added.
The Farrars have been campaigning at the White River Branch since the polls opened at 6 a.m.. Jacob’s campaign plans to have a representative posted at the site until the end of the night, Wendy said.
With so many mail-in ballots to be counted, they plan on relaxing tonight with the expectation that the District 93 race will not be decided, Wendy Farrar said.
Monette Clingaman, of Greenwood, voted in person today to make sure her voice was heard. Though the presidential race was already decided, Clingaman wanted to cast a ballot for Jay Hart, a Republican candidate for District 58 State Representative.
“I came out for the presidential and state representative races,” Clingaman said. “I like Hart because of his views on family and Christian values, pro-life and stuff like that.”
Codey Fauber voted for the change he wants to see in the world.
“We have been seeing how things in the world have been recently and we want to make some changes. Voting is the way to make the changes we want,” Fauber said.
Even though several races are already decided, Samantha Shoemaker, of Greenwood, said primaries are still worthwhile.
“I think that even if primaries are not seen as the most important election it is important to participate in every aspect of the election in order to make sure that your voice is properly heard,” Shoemaker said.
— Leeann Doerflein
11:45 a.m., Grace Assembly of God, New Whiteland
A group of about 10 people gathered around the front entrance of Grace Assembly of God, campaigning for Jay Hart, a candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives.
Brendan Murray, of Indianapolis, donning a red shirt for Jay Hart, said he got to the vote center at 6:30 a.m.
“I’m happy to be here. It’s a really nice day. It’s nice to be here with other Republicans,” Hart said. “There are a lot of good, happy people here despite what’s going on (with COVID-19). It’s good to see change at the ballot box.”
Conversations with voters have been minimal, as most have gone straight to the polls once exiting their cars. That might be because they have already decided who they are voting for, Murray said.
Murray wanted to campaign for Hart because of his honesty, he said.
“Jay is not a politician; he works in small business. He’s just looking to serve the community,” Murray said.
— Andy Bell-Baltaci
11:30 a.m., Grace Assembly of God, New Whiteland
One of the youngest people to arrive at the polls on Tuesday was an 18 month old.
Rachel Moore, of New Whiteland, brought her son out so she could watch him while she voted.
Voting has been a tradition for Moore the past 10 years, even though she was not as active politically when she was younger, Moore said.
“With all the chaos in the nation, it’s important everyone has voices and are heard,” Moore said. “Even with the circumstances (of the pandemic), it’s important to cast my vote.”
Part of the reason she is voting is to ensure a better future for her son, Moore said.
“When I was younger, there were not a lot of political things taught,” Moore said. “Now, I feel like it’s my duty to do something to affect change and make it a better world for my son.”
— Andy Bell-Baltaci
9:45 a.m., Franklin Community Center, Franklin
Election clerks and officials sat behind glass panes at the community center, while red x’s outside the polling place six feet apart marked where voters should stand as they waited to cast their ballots.
Between when the voting center opened at 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., 216 voters had selected their candidates of choice, Election Inspector Richard Wertz said.
About 40 to 50 percent of voters wore masks to the polls, and election officials took measures to sanitize the polling place, he said.
“We have hand sanitizer at the door, we have masks, we sanitize the voting cards, the screens, the styluses, and after they vote we wipe down the voting machines,” Wertz said. “The seniors have the tendency to wear masks, more than younger people.”
Helping out as an election worker is a way to give back to the community, he said.
— Andy Bell-Baltaci
9:30 a.m., Franklin Community Center, Franklin
A smattering of signs planted in the grass outside the community center endorsed a number of Johnson County Council candidates.
Franklin resident Chuck Oliver campaigned for one candidate in particular: Melinda Griesemer. He arrived around 8:45 a.m., and had spoken to “four or five” people during that first 45 minutes.
Even though many voters may have made up their minds before heading to the polls, Oliver hoped to answer questions and give people information on his favorite candidate.
“She’s a healthcare worker, female and a constitutional conservative,” Oliver said of Griesemer. “She’s someone who is fiscally responsible, and I think Johnson County needs that right now. She’ll keep taxes low, and a motherly touch on the council never hurts.”
— Andy Bell-Baltaci
9:10 a.m., Mount Pleasant Christian Church, Greenwood
There was no line to wait to vote at Mount Pleasant Christian Church in Greenwood, which surprised voters as they walked in.
Iris Elamon, of Greenwood, was confused about where to go to check in because there was no line, she said.
“It’s normally wrapped all the way around the back, and it’s a mile long,” she said.
She understood that many people don’t vote in a primary election, though, she said.
Like many voters who chose to head to the polls today, Elamon felt it was more secure to cast a vote in person, she said.
“Absentee ballots, sometimes I worry about them, that they don’t get in,” she said.
— Emily Ketterer
7:35 a.m., The Nest, Greenwood
A new task for poll workers this year is making sure everything is constantly disinfected at the vote centers.
Amber Overton, who works as a floater at the polls, is in charge of cleaning.
There is a sign posted on the door outside instructing voters they should not enter if they are ill or have a fever. Once inside, several hand sanitizer bottles and free masks for voters are lined up on the check-in tables, which are equipped with plastic sneeze guards to protect poll workers and voters.
When a voter checks in, a worker takes them to a voting machine where it is sprayed and wiped down in front of the voter so they can ensure it was cleaned thoroughly, Overton said.
There are additional poll workers to help keep the site clean, she said. There are also additional machines at each site since there are only 10 vote centers this year instead of the 22 election officials had planned on.
“We’ve done everything we can do to make everyone feel comfortable,” Overton said. “We are sort of going above and beyond.”
Overton, who has worked at least 20 elections, said the turnout is a lot lower than in past elections.
“It does seem a little bit slow … over the last few years we’ve gotten a lot of participation in voting in this county, so it is kind of slow and kind of weird,” she said.
— Emily Ketterer
7:10 a.m., The Nest, Greenwood
A handful of people arrived at the polls early this morning to cast their ballots.
Jeff and Beth Hicks of Greenwood waited too long to apply for an absentee ballot, so they decided to come early to cast a vote at The Nest Event Center in Greenwood.
“It’s always important to vote. I don’t know that the virus changes anything,” Jeff Hicks said.
The number of voters at The Nest staggered within the first hour since the polls opened, with two or three people coming in at a time.
Chad Morrison and Erica Vorndran voted in person today because it’s a tradition and they felt safer casting a ballot in person rather than sending one in the mail, they said.
“I’ve voted all my life, so it’s familiar I guess,” Morrison said.
“I know that when I’m voting, it’s getting done correctly,” Vorndran added.
Jan Rhoades, of Greenwood, also felt her vote was more secure by coming to the polls.
“It’s a choice, and it’s a choice we should all make,” Rhoades said.
— Emily Ketterer
