Early voting is higher than past two elections in Indianapolis

Early voting for Tuesday's primary election is the highest it's been in the past decade, according to the Marion County Clerk's office.

But don't get too enthused for that stat — turnout is still expected to be lower than the clerk's office would like, which is fairly typical for municipal elections, said Russell Hollis, deputy director at the Marion County clerk's office.

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"So far, early voting, while it's lower than last year's election, it's still higher than previous municipal elections in the past decade," Hollis said. "At first we were thinking that these voter turnout numbers are pretty low, but when you look at them compared to past years, we're actually higher."

As of Thursday, the 20th day of early voting, 1,571 people had voted in the county. That number on the 20th early voting day in 2015 was 1,149 and in 2011 it was 1,284. Total absentee votes for 2019 are 2,883, compared to 2,355 in 2015 and 2,730 in 2011.

The higher numbers this year, Hollis said, are likely attributable to new voting satellite sites and digital ballots, which were used in 2018 and 2016 to supplement paper ballots, but will be used exclusively this year.

"I'm hopeful that our efforts to educate the public on those changes is really reminding people that, hey, there is an election this year, things are going to look a little different this year," he said. "We're hopeful that the fact that there is something new, something exciting, might increase voter turnout and increase voter engagement."

You can still vote early in the clerk's office at the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St., Suite W144, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; and Monday from 8 a.m. to noon. Or, head to the Washington Township Government Center, 5302 N. Keystone Ave., or the Perry Township Government Center, 4925 Shelby St., No. 200, to vote. Both will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

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Primary voting hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and voters can go to any one of the 277 centers in the county to cast their votes. To learn where they are, head to indyvotes.org.

In the 2015 municipal primary the clerk's office reported 7.73 percent voter turnout, and 12.55 percent in 2011.

Contested mayoral races in both the Democratic and Republican primary, as well as a few contested City-County Council races, has worked to gin up interest, Hollis said.

Increasing voter turnout is up to everyone, he said, including the candidates.

"We can all do more," he said. "Maybe we can inform people of how this election cycle impacts their daily life."

Call IndyStar reporter Amy Bartner at 317-444-6752. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.