A fairly recent change in state law makes it important for voters, especially those who vote straight ticket, to review their ballots and make sure they have made selections in every race before casting it.
Straight-ticket voting lets voters choose a party’s entire slate of candidates with a single ballot mark. But voting law changed in 2016, and selecting the straight-ticket option on a ballot no longer records any votes in races where the voter is required to choose multiple candidates in a partisan race, such as with city and town council at-large races.
One example of this situation is the Franklin City Council at-large race.
If a Franklin voter chooses to vote straight-ticket Republican, a vote will not be recorded in the city council at-large race because voters must pick two candidates among the two Republicans and one Independent. The machine will not automatically select the two Republicans, even though there are two seats available.
Some local politicians have raised concerns about potential under-voting due to the change. Johnson County Clerk Trena McLaughlin said it should not be an issue if voters read the instructions at the voting machines.
"If they’re reading it, they’re going to know," she said.
The county’s party leaders and poll workers are aware of the change in the straight-ticket voting, McLaughlin said.
Straight-party ballots now include the following instructions: To vote for any candidate for Town or City Council At-Large, you must select each candidate you wish to vote for. Your straight party vote will not count as a vote for any candidate for that office.
In addition to the Franklin council at-large race, Bargersville and Edinburgh town councils are other races where this is an issue. Trafalgar Town Council is not, however, because there are five Republicans for five seats, and those candidates will automatically be slated.
Voters can still choose to vote straight ticket, but need to scroll through the ballot and manually select candidates in the "pick two" or "pick three" races. Voters in White River Township will also need to manually vote "yes" or "no" to the Center Grove Community Schools referendum, which could raise property taxes in the area to pay for added security and mental health supports.
Straight-ticket voters have always needed to manually vote in non-partisan races, such as school board, and on public questions, such as the Center Grove schools referendum.
With the county’s new election equipment, which officials decided to rent from Indianapolis-based MicroVote this year and will buy from the same vendor next year, voters can review their ballots before they submit them, and they should, McLaughlin said.
Legislators said the change was needed to create consistency in how straight-ticket ballots are counted in counties that use direct-recording electronic voting or don’t use paper ballots.
Only nine states allow straight-ticket voting, including Indiana and two border states, Michigan and Kentucky.
Early voting started this week and will continue until Nov. 4, the day before Election Day.
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Here is a look at the instructions straight-party voters will see on their ballots:
(1) To vote a straight party ticket for one political party’s candidates, except for candidates described in sections (2) and (3) below, select one of the following parties.
(2) To vote for any candidate for Town or City Council At-Large, you must select each candidate you wish to vote for. Your straight party vote will not count as a vote for any candidate for that office.
(3) If you wish to vote for a candidate seeking a nonpartisan office or on a public question, you must select the appropriate place on this ballot.
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Here is a look at when and where you can cast your ballot early:
Johnson County Courthouse, 5 E. Jefferson St., Franklin
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Nov. 2.
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nov. 4.
Trafalgar Public Library, 424 S. Tower St., Trafalgar
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Nov. 2.
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
Vineyard Community Church, 512 S. Madison Ave, Greenwood
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Nov. 2.
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
John R. Drybread Community Center, 100 E. Main Cross St., Edinburgh
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Nov. 2.
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
White River Public Library, 1664 Library Blvd., Greenwood
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Nov. 2.
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
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