Mixed early voting turnout in Indiana municipal elections

Voters are selecting leaders for their cities and towns in Tuesday’s 2023 Indiana municipal elections.

Low voter turnout isn’t unusual in many communities in these local elections. However, Hamilton County Elections Administrator Beth Sheller said it isn’t a typical year in the state’s fourth-largest county.

One factor behind high turnout can be attributed to seven-term Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard’s decision not to run for re-election. It’s the first time in nearly 30 years the Republican’s name won’t appear at the top of the ballot.

“This has already been a record for our municipal election here in Hamilton County,” said Sheller, “for early voting and for ballots that have been sent out.”

According to the Indiana Secretary of State’s office, in the last comparable municipal election – in 2019 – less than a quarter of Indiana’s 2.8 million registered voters turned out to cast a ballot.

Sheller noted that her office has had some trouble finding poll workers because it seems like people aren’t that engaged in a municipal election.

Hamilton County voters will see a paper printout of the candidates they support. Sheller said it gives voters extra confidence before a ballot is cast.

“We are using the paper trail on all of our election machines for the first time this year,” said Sheller. “We’ve been using it for several years during early voting. It shows you what you voted – and then, when you hit the red button that votes your ballot, it goes completely out of view, of course, so that nobody else can see that.”

Voters may find lines at polling sites Tuesday because some Hoosiers vote before or after work, or at lunch. If you can avoid those popular times, your wait won’t likely be long.

Sheller said to speed up your visit, have your government-issued identification in hand and take time to preview your ballot choice before you go to the poll.

You will find information for each municipality election online at indianavoters.in.gov.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.