Indiana Municipal Election Day is Nov. 7. Local elections affect our daily lives more directly than presidential and congressional elections.
Your vote is vital because during municipal elections we elect mayors, clerk-treasurers, town or city council members, and judges. The people we elect in the 2023 Johnson County Municipal Election will make decisions that directly impact our daily lives and our community.
As our elected officials, these people make decisions about spending taxes, local ordinances, law enforcement, fire and police protection, public health, property taxes, land use, housing, education, zoning regulations, transportation, infrastructure, maintenance, parks and recreation, libraries, and more. They have the responsibility and the power to affect the quality of life in our cities and towns. All elected officials are directly accountable to each of us. They are public servants who can take the ideas and desires of their constituents and put them into action.
Democracy works best when people’s voices are heard. Voting is every citizen’s responsibility. The law does not require citizens to vote, but we have the right to vote. Elections are our opportunity to choose leaders to represent us, our values, and ideas, and positively transform our communities.
It is important to make informed decisions about candidates when we vote. We should know their credentials and qualifications, their priorities for our community their party affiliation, the party’s platform, and whether the candidate has special interests. To help inform voters about candidates, the League of Women Voters provides online voter information at VOTE411.org. This easy-to-use platform provides nonpartisan information to the public. At VOTE411, among other things, you can find your personalized ballot and Indiana voter ID requirements, update your voter registration, register to vote, find the candidates on your ballot, find polling places, and learn about the candidates in their own words. The League of Women Voters of Johnson County will publish the online guide to local races and candidates on Oct. 1.
You will be ready to vote after you study the candidates and decide which candidates you consider most qualified. If you do not want to vote for any candidates you do not know, trust, or want to win, you can leave the boxes next to those names unchecked.
You cannot vote if you are not properly registered. Oct. 10 is the voter registration deadline for this election. Before this date, you should verify your registration status and/or register to vote. This can be completed at indianavoters.in.gov/ or at VOTE411.org. Mail-in voter registration applications must be postmarked on or before Oct. 10. Online voter registration applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 10.
Oct. 26 is the deadline to request an absentee ballot application. If your application is approved by the county election board, they will mail you an absentee ballot. Be sure to mail or personally deliver your application well before Oct. 26 to avoid any mail delays.
Voting is just one way to be a good citizen. If you wish to be more civically involved there are additional things you can do. It is legal to display yard signs 60 days before the election until six days after election day even if your homeowner’s association restricts yard signs. If you feel particularly passionate about a candidate, you can reach out to see what volunteering opportunities are available. Additionally, you can start taking a bigger part in local politics by attending community meetings and voicing your opinions to your city council members. You can also learn more about federal elections.
Please note, since this is a municipal election, voters in unincorporated Johnson County will not have a ballot.
Make your voice heard. Your vote can make an enormous difference! Only 16% of those eligible voted in the last Johnson County municipal election. Voting gives you the ability to make change. Decide to vote. Encourage your friends and family to vote. Together we can make a difference in our Johnson County communities.
Join us
Everyone is invited to attend our LWVJC members meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at Risen Lord/Tapestry Church, 3758 W Whiteland Rd, Bargersville.
LWV Johnson County member Karen Lunsford wrote this column. To learn more about LWVJC, visit lwvjcin.org. Send comments to [email protected].
