Early voters cast ballots at courthouse

<p>The rainy weather couldn’t put a damper on the first day of early voting, as people lined up at the courthouse to cast their votes Wednesday morning.</p><p>Early voting began Wednesday at the Johnson County Courthouse, marking the official start of this year’s general election. Voters in Johnson County this year will chose a new clerk and sheriff, as well as picking county council members, township trustees, school board members and state and national representatives.</p><p>Those who came out on Wednesday intended to cast their ballots to beat the lines on Election Day.</p><p>Whiteland resident James Heater said early voting is something he and his wife do every election.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>&quot;We can come when we so choose once the decision is made about who we’re going to vote for,&quot; he said. &quot;No need to wait.&quot;</p><p>For Franklin resident David Reed, his choice to vote early stemmed from medical reasons, he said. He is undergoing knee surgery later this month, which means he can’t go out to vote on Nov. 6, he said.</p><p>Reed said he is not typically a political person, but he feels voting an important way to express his opinion.</p><p>&quot;I didn’t vote for a long time, if I’m being honest,&quot; he said. &quot;Now I vote. If I want to make a difference, I have to do it.&quot;</p><p>With a number of important choices at the local, state and national levels, the ones that captured Franklin resident Tim Leonard’s attention were the races for U.S. Senate and Representative.</p><p>The Senate race in particular will be the one to bring people out to vote, Leonard said.</p><p>&quot;It seems to be the hottest contested race,&quot; Leonard said. &quot;A lot of the other ones in Johnson County, being a Republican county, are pretty set.&quot;</p><p>The current political climate, overwhelmed by increasing bitterness, makes voting even more important today than it has been in the past, said Roberta Cox, a Franklin resident.</p><p>&quot;To vote is important because of all the hate that’s going on,&quot; Cox said.</p><p>Voting is a privilege and a right for citizens, said early-voter and Franklin resident Wanda Parsley Bunge. She has voted early in the past, she said.</p><p>&quot;We are responsible for these guys and we shouldn’t complain when we don’t vote,&quot; she said.</p><p>Early voting will continue at the courthouse Monday through Friday until Nov. 2, with additional Saturday hours on Oct. 27 and Nov. 3. The courthouse will also host early voting on Nov. 5.</p><p>Other voting centers, including locations in Trafalgar, Greenwood and Edinburgh, will be open later in October and early November.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Here is a look at where and when you can cast your ballot early:</p><p><strong>Johnson County Courthouse, 5 E. Jefferson St., Franklin</strong></p><p>8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday</p><p>8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 27 and Nov. 3</p><p>8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nov. 5</p><p><strong>Trafalgar Public Library, 424 S. Tower Street, Trafalgar</strong></p><p>8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 27 and Nov. 3</p><p>10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2</p><p><strong>Vineyard Christian Church, 512 S. Madison Ave, Greenwood</strong></p><p>8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 27 and Nov. 3</p><p>10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2</p><p><strong>Edinburgh Public Library, 119 W. Main Cross St., Edinburgh</strong></p><p>8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 27 and Nov. 3</p><p>10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2</p><p><strong>Mount Pleasant Christian Church, 381 N. Bluff Road, Greenwood</strong></p><p>10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2</p><p>8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 3</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]