Low turnout continues for early voting in Johnson County

Ahead of early voting expanding next week, a Johnson County election official says voter turnout has been lower than expected.

Early voting started April 9 at the Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin. It started with a group of eight voters before tapering off for the rest of the day on Tuesday.

The small, and slow, number of voters has continued in the nearly two weeks since then.

“Turnout has been slower than expected,” said Trena McLaughlin, county clerk.

From April 9 to Wednesday, 518 voters have come out to cast their ballots at the polls. Election officials have mailed out 969 absentee ballots to approved voters and received 384 back so far, McLaughlin said.

It is hard to predict voter turnout, she said. But McLaughlin does have a possible reason for the low turnout so far: undecided voters.

“I think maybe with this election, voters have not decided on governor and U.S. representative,” she said.

Governor and the U.S. representative for Indiana’s 6th Congressional district are just two of the contested races on Republican voters’ primary ballots.

Republican voters will have to choose between six candidates for Indiana governor, a seven-way race for Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, two candidate races for county commissioner and coroner, and six candidates 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. There is also a contested race for Prince’s Lakes Town Council, with five candidates seeking two at-large seats.

Local Democrats have contested races, too. There is a two-way race for the U.S. Senate, as well as four candidates for three Johnson County Council nominations.

The contested races for both major parties come despite their presidential picks being all but decided.

To see a full list of who is on their ballot, voters can visit indianavoters.com and type in their name under “Who’s on the ballot.”

Presidential election years typically have higher than normal turnout, which could lead to longer lines on Primary Election Day. 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.

In terms of actual voters, the 2020 primary had 22,737 total votes cast, including early votes. The 2016 primary had 41,365 total ballots cast, records show.

Early voting at the courthouse continues for the next two weeks from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. 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.

Voters will have more places to early vote starting Monday. Five satellite voting centers will open: the Franklin Parks & Recreation Center, the John R. Drybread Community Center in Edinburgh, 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.

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.

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.

WHERE TO VOTE EARLY

Here is a look at when and where you can cast your ballot early. Early voting continues until May 6:

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

» 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today; Monday-next Friday; April 29-May 3

» 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 27; May 4

» 8 a.m. to noon May 6

Franklin Parks & Recreation Center, 396 Branigan Boulevard/State Street, Franklin

» 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; April 29-May 3

» 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; May 4

White River Public Library, 1664 Library Boulevard, Greenwood

» 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; April 29-May 3

» 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; May 4

Greenwood Public Library (east door), 310 S. Meridian St., Greenwood

» 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; April 29-May 3

» 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; May 4

Trafalgar Public Library, 424 S. Tower St., Trafalgar

» 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 22-26; April 29-May 3

» 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 27; May 4

John R. Drybread Community Center, 100 E. Main Cross St., Edinburgh

» 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; April 29-May 3

» 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; May 4

Greenwood Village South Retirement Community, 295 Village Lane, Greenwood

» 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 29

Otterbein SeniorLife Community, 1070 W. Jefferson St., Franklin

» 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 30

Compass Park/Indiana Masonic Home, 690 State St., Franklin

» 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 1

Source: Johnson County Voter Registration