Local News

Early voting starts today

October 6, 2020

Voters cast their ballots on Friday at the White River Township branch of the Johnson County Library. Scott Roberson | Daily Journal

Voters can start casting their ballots in person today and for the next four weeks leading up to what is sure to be a historic presidential election.

Johnson County Clerk Trena McLaughlin continues to encourage anyone who is ready to vote, but is not eligible to vote by mail, to cast a ballot at one of six early voting sites and avoid waiting in line on Election Day, Nov. 3.

Voting will look similar to how it did in May and June, with coronavirus-related precautions in place.

"All poll workers will be required to wear a mask or face shield (and) will have PPE equipment if a voter requests a mask. Machines will be cleaned prior to each voter voting. Voters will be asked to maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet," McLaughlin said.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

There will be several hand sanitizer stations in place, and tape marks on the floor to indicate where voters should stand in line while waiting to check in, ensuring recommended social distancing is at play. Other safety precautions include plastic sneeze-guards at the check-in tables, keeping voters and poll workers safe. Also, voters have to place their own IDs in the electronic pollbook holder when checking in so the workers do not have to touch it.

There are 10 contested local, state and national races on Johnson County ballots for the upcoming election, now less than 30 days away. Additionally, there are 14 school board seats up for grabs in the county’s six public school districts. Voters will choose among Democrat, Libertarian and Republican candidates who they want to represent them in the county, at the Statehouse, in Washington D.C. and as U.S. President and Vice President. The candidate pool was narrowed during the postponed primary in June, when Democrats and Republicans selected their top picks to advance to the upcoming general election.

All registered voters in the county have decisions to make this year.

They also have decisions to make about how they want to vote. Some — but not all, as was the case during the primary — can cast their ballots by mail. Those who wish to vote but are not eligible to vote by mail will have to decide whether to vote on Election Day, or before.

Election officials hope to see a strong turnout each year, and this year is no different in that respect. The first indication is how many people vote early. This year, many already have.

As of Monday, 12,680 mail-in ballots had been requested and sent out, and about 5,800 had already been returned, McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin is predicting at least 63% voter turnout overall, the percentage of voters who cast ballots during the last presidential election in 2016. She is also predicting about 20,000 votes will be by mail. None of those votes can be counted until Election Day.

"We have several bi-partisan teams working daily to process all ballots being mailed out," McLaughlin said. "Voter Registration staff are working extra hours to process all the daily mail, and I also have clerk staff assisting with the daily processing of applications (and) new registrations."

Early voter turnout fluctuates. For example, in the 2016 presidential election, 32% of voters voted early which, at the time, broke a record for Johnson County. But historically, few people have taken advantage of early voting.

Last November, about 30% of voters voted early, and just 7% of those early votes were by mail. Then, in the primary election this spring, due to the coronavirus pandemic and relaxed voting rules, more people voted by mail than any other method, including Election Day votes cast in person, and just 2,090 people voted early in person.

The Johnson County Courthouse will be open weekdays for early voting beginning today. It will also be open Oct. 24 and Oct. 31 — both are Saturdays — and until noon Nov. 2, the day before Election Day.

The Greenwood, Trafalgar and White River public libraries, as well as the Franklin Community Center and John R. Drybread Community Center in Edinburgh, are other places residents can vote early. Voters can vote at any of the locations regardless of their address, as long as they live in Johnson County.

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Here is a look at when and where you can cast your ballot early:

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

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, starting today

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 24 and 31 (Saturdays)

8:30 a.m. to noon Nov. 2

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