Poll worker Meagan Reiley assists voters at the Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria, a polling site, during early voting on April 30, 2016.
Daily Journal Archives
News from around Johnson County as reported on May 2 in the pages of the Daily Journal and the Franklin Evening Star from the last 112 years.
On this day in 2016, one of the main stories on the front page of the Daily Journal was about how early voting totals surpassed 10,000.
As of the afternoon of April 30, 2016, 10,819 people –- or 10.4 percent of registered voters -– had walked into a vote center to cast their ballot in the primary election. This number didn’t include residents who had mailed in ballots.
Polls on Election Day were expected to be busy since neither the Democratic nor Republican parties had their presidential nominees picked, Johnson County Clerk Sue Anne Misiniec said. She added she anticipated at least 50% of registered voters to cast ballots in the 2016 primary election.
Despite rain throughout the day, some voting centers saw the longest lines on April 30, 2016, compared to any of the days they were open during the week.
Within the first two hours of poll sites opening that day, 200 voters had cast ballots at Mount Pleasant Christian Church. By 10:30 a.m., 15 to 20 people were waiting in line to vote, and the 10 machines were in use.
Many residents said early voting was best due to their work schedules, and was quick and convenient, due to shorter lines than typically seen on Election Day.
“It’s just so hard during the work week because it is packed, so this is a lot less stressful,” said White River Township resident John Alexander.
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Other memorable Johnson County stories from this day
2014
An eight-year-old Center Grove area boy required 20 stitches after being attacked by a dog.
1994
The four Republican candidates for Johnson County Sheriff all agreed that gangs were a problem for the county but differed on how to address them
1923
1,400 soldiers pitched camp in Franklin for the night.
