Johnson County early voting begins Tuesday at courthouse

April 5, 2024

Just a day after the once-in-lifetime eclipse total solar eclipse, Johnson County voters have an election to look forward to.

With the presidency and many races of local interest on the ballot, the Johnson County Clerk’s Office is expecting a hearty turnout, said Trena McLaughlin, county clerk.

“I definitely think that will bring out voters this election,” McLaughlin said.

Early voting starts at the Johnson County Courthouse at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. As is tradition, there will likely be a line at the door to the courthouse basement at that time. The line typically snakes around the sidewalk surrounding the courthouse throughout the day.

Though both major party presidential picks are all but decided, local Democratic and Republican voters have plenty of down-ballot choices to make.

Local Republicans have on their ballots a six-way race for Indiana governor, a seven-way race for the Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, two-way races for county commissioner and coroner, and a six-way race for three at-large nominations for county council on the ballot. Voters who live in southern White River Township, along with Union and Hensley townships, also have a two-way race for Indiana Senate District 37.

Local Democrats have a two-way race for the U.S. Senate to help decide, as well as a four-way race for three Johnson County Council nominations. Previously, there was a race for an Indiana Senate District 32 seat for Clark and Pleasant Township Democrats, but the field was reduced to one after a candidate was disqualified by the Indiana Election Commission.

Presidential years typically have higher than normal turnout, which could lead to longer lines. The last presidential primary in 2020 saw a turnout of 21.5%, but this was affected by delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2016 primary saw a turnout of 39.8%, data shows.

The turnout will likely be higher than the last presidential race in 2020, as it was an outlier, McLaughlin said. That year more people also voted early than on the day of the primary, turnout data shows.

1 of 4

One thing from that year seems to have stuck from 2020 voting habits. In the years since, more people have voted by mail or early in-person, McLaughlin said. Voters likely realized voting early is faster and more convenient than voting on the day of an election, she said.

Whenever voters come out to cast their ballot, the clerk’s office and poll workers aim to make the experience as quick and easy as possible, she said.

“We try to do everything we can for the voters, whether they get out to vote early, by mail or on Election Day,” McLaughlin said.

With early voting taking place for a month before the election, voters have plenty of chances to avoid the line on Primary Election Day, May 7.

Early voting at the courthouse will be open Monday to Friday for the first two weeks, aside from this week, because county buildings are closed for the total solar eclipse. Starting April 27, the courthouse will be open on Saturdays for two weekends, with early voting coming to an end at noon, Monday, May 6.

Five satellite voting centers will open the week of April 22: the Franklin Parks & Recreation Center, the John R. Drybread Community Center, and the White River, Greenwood and Trafalgar libraries. These locations will also be open for two Saturdays, April 27 and May 4, before closing at 2 p.m. May 4.

The Franklin Parks & Recreation was not used as a vote center for early voting last year. It was added back to the roster this year to alleviate some of the traffic the courthouse is expected to get, McLaughlin said.

Three senior living community vote centers will be open from April 29 to May 1 for one day each. In order of opening, they are Greenwood Village South, Otterbein SeniorLife and Compass Park. These are the same centers that have been used in past elections.

Nineteen locations will be used as vote centers on Election Day, May 7. Three locations — Mt. Pleasant Christian Church, Grace Assembly of God and Scott Hall at the Johnson County Fairgrounds — will feature two vote centers at the same location, making for a total of 22.

At the doubled-up locations, the vote centers will be spaced apart from each other, but they will have the same amount of staffing and machines, McLaughlin said.

WHERE TO VOTE EARLY

Here is a look at when and where you can cast your ballot early. Early voting runs from April 9 to May 6:

Johnson County Courthouse, 5 E. Jefferson St., Franklin

» 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 9-12; April 15-19; April 22-26; April 29-May 3