Voters are trickling in at the five vote centers that are open ahead of Election Day.
As of Friday, about 1,900 people had voted for the Republican candidates they want to represent their cities and towns in the fall general election, when those party front runners will face any Democrat or Independent candidates who may be on the ballot. Some of those voters only cast ballots to answer the Franklin Community Schools public question.
The 1.8 percent turnout so far is low, but expected, Johnson County Clerk Trena McLaughlin said. The last comparable election in the spring of 2015 saw a 7.8 percent total turnout.
Turnout has been highest in Greenwood, where there is a mayor’s race and more than two dozen candidates for city council. As of noon Friday, 476 voters had cast ballots at Vineyard Christian Church and the White River branch of the Johnson County Public Library, both of which are located in Greenwood.
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"Greenwood is a strong voter area. Those people always get out and vote," McLaughlin said.
Turnout has been lowest at the polling sites in Edinburgh and Trafalgar, which wouldn’t be unusual, but Trafalgar also has highly contested town council and clerk-treasurer races. Fewer than 100 voters have cast ballots at the Trafalgar Public Library, the only vote center in the county’s smallest town.
The Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin is averaging about 100 voters a day, McLaughlin said. About 1,000 voters had cast ballots there by Friday afternoon.
Today is your last chance to vote early at the four satellite sites. The courthouse will be open for early voting until noon on Monday. Tuesday is Election Day.
Just 65 voters cast ballots last Saturday at the five vote centers that were open throughout the day.
"I would love to see more this Saturday. It’s the last Saturday before the election. But I think weather plays a big part, honestly, and it’s supposed to rain," McLaughlin said.
"We’re trying to make it as convenient for the voters as possible."
In the last election, nearly half of all voters did so early. If that is any indication of total turnout during this primary, the county’s 10 percent projection is a long shot.
All cities and towns except New Whiteland have contested primary races, and all registered voters in the Franklin school district can vote on a referendum that proposes raising property taxes to pay for teacher salaries and school safety initiatives, regardless of party affiliation.
McLaughlin wants to remind everyone that voting early is quick and easy, she said. The greatest perk right now: No lines.
"People have been in and out, especially those who are voting on the Franklin (Community) Schools public question only — it is literally taking them longer to check in than it’s taking them to cast their ballot," McLaughlin said. "And checking in takes no time at all."
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Here is a look at when and where you can still cast your ballot early. The following locations are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.
Johnson County Courthouse, 5 E. Jefferson St., Franklin
Trafalgar Public Library, 424 S. Tower St., Trafalgar
Vineyard Christian Church, 512 S. Madison Ave, Greenwood
John R. Drybread Community Center, 100 E. Main Cross St., Edinburgh.
White River library, 1664 Library Blvd., Greenwood
The Courthouse is also open for early voting from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Monday.
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Here is a look at how many voters had cast early ballots at early voting sites by noon Friday:
Johnson County courthouse;984
Vineyard Christian Church;357
John R. Drybread Community Center;59
White River library;119
Trafalgar Public Library;75
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