Final Johnson County voting results

Have you voted? We want to hear about the lines at the vote centers, the issues that matter most to you and any experiences you had voting.

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10:20 p.m.: Johnson County vote totals have been released. These numbers include early voting and ballots cast today.

See the results here:

http://www.dailyjournal.net/elections/

Final voting results delayed — 10 p.m. update

Final voting results for Johnson County are not yet available.

Vote center workers removed the memory cards from two voting machines before all the results were downloaded onto the cards when the vote center was closed. This happened at the Grace Assembly of God vote center in New Whiteland.  Election officials had to go back to the two machines at the vote center to read the results from the machines, county clerk Susie Misiniec said late Tuesday night.

We’ll post final results as soon as they are available. For now, we have early voting results. About 35 percent of registered voters in Johnson County voted early. Those results have been released. You can find them here:

Twenty-two of the 24 vote centers have returned results from today’s voting to election officials at the Johnson County Courthouse. We’ll update the results are soon as more are released.

The waiting game

Polling place workers are returning to the Johnson County Courthouse, where election officials are tabulating the results.

Election officials had planned to first release the results of mail-in absentee voting and began tabulating those ballots at 3 p.m.

By 7:15 p.m., no results have been released.

Workers from 24 vote centers have to return their equipment, which contains the results, to the courthouse in downtown Franklin. The busiest vote centers with the heaviest turnout and the most machines are located in northern Johnson County, which is furthest from the courthouse.

Workers from nine vote centers have returned to the courthouse as of 7:15  p.m.

Voting ending across Johnson County

The late-afternoon and after-work rush that was expected to create long lines at vote centers was not as bad as expected.

Voters lined up more than an hour before the vote center at Jonathan Byrd’s in Greenwood opened this morning, but when polls closed at 6 p.m., 20 voters were waiting to cast their ballots.

One of the final residents to cast a ballot in Johnson County walks into the vote center at Jonathan Byrd's in Greenwood as election inspector Allen Distler watches the clock before closing the center on Tuesday. Scott Roberson / Daily Journal
One of the final residents to cast a ballot in Johnson County walks into the vote center at Jonathan Byrd’s in Greenwood as election inspector Allen Distler watches the clock before closing the center on Tuesday. Scott Roberson / Daily Journal
Workers close the polls at Mount Pleasant Christian Church on Tuesday evening.
Workers close the polls at Mount Pleasant Christian Church on Tuesday evening.

Voting is not continuing for hours as it did in the primary, when hundreds of voters were in line by 6 p.m. and vote centers remained open, by law, to allow them to vote.

Election officials are tabulating early voting results. We’ll post them here as soon as they are available.

http://www.dailyjournal.net/elections/

Turnout tops 50 percent at mid-day

Before noon, more than half of the county’s registered voters had cast a ballot.

Across the county, nearly all of the county’s 24 vote centers had a line at 6 a.m. when polls opened, Johnson County Clerk Susie Misiniec said.

That includes centers that usually don’t have lines, she said. For example, voters rarely have waited in line in past years at GracePoint Church in New Whiteland, but were lined up outside the building, along the sidewalk near Whiteland Road this morning, she said.

“So maybe people are catching on to some of these other spots that we’ve tried to get them to utilize and they just haven’t,” Misiniec said.

The county hasn’t needed to send any extra voting machines to vote centers. Some of the busiest sites have 30 voting machines, she said.

The county did send another electronic pollbook to the Greenwood Moose Lodge, which is a new site this year, to help with lines, Misiniec said.

Except for minor issues with starting machines that occurs every election, the county has not had any problems, she said.

The next rush will be after 3 p.m., and Misiniec is sure lines will form again at most vote centers, she said.

Voters cast their ballots on Tuesday afternoon at the White River Township branch of the Johnson County Public Library. Scott Roberson / Daily Journal
Voters cast their ballots on Tuesday afternoon at the White River Township branch of the Johnson County Public Library. Scott Roberson / Daily Journal

How long people will be in line after the polls close at 6 p.m. is anyone’s guess, Misiniec said this afternoon.

With such a huge early voting turnout of about 32 percent, she thought Election Day would likely be slower, but so far, that hasn’t been the case.

“This whole election has been so different than other elections that I don’t know what will happen at 6 o’clock,” Misiniec said.

Schools get in on the action

Local schools are hosting their own election-themed events.

Franklin Community High School students will gather tonight to monitor election results and track Electoral College votes. The event is geared toward students who participate in Harvard Model Congress or are enrolled in social studies courses.

North Grove Elementary School hosted a mock election, where students cast ballots for U.S. president, Indiana governor and which movie should be shown at their school’s next movie night.

Afternoon lull begins

Polling places from Franklin to Whiteland and Trafalgar are reporting no wait time, but poll workers expect lines to begin forming again after 3 p.m., when the afternoon rush begins.

First time voter

With a contentious presidential election, Ross Ellis felt privileged to vote for the first time.

The Franklin Community High School senior turned 18 earlier this year, and was excited to participate in the fundamental democratic process.

When his turn at the polling place at the Bargersville Town Hall came, he felt comfortable casting his ballot.

“I was confident with it. I understood what was going to happen, and had been following along with everything. I’m a high school student, so that’s what we’ve been studying,” he said.

Of all of the issues facing the country, Ellis was most concerned with the debate over abortion. The next president will have a major impact on the Supreme Court, possibly filling multiple seats that will influence the judicial system for decades. That’s what makes this election so vital, Ellis said.

“That’s one of the big ones going on right now, and that’s what I’ve been hearing the most about,” he said.

Concerned about the economy

For Franklin resident Ed Jameson, this election marked a fork in the road for the nation.

Depending on the results, the U.S. could either be headed for greater success and dominance in the world arena, or ruin, he said.

So he felt it was vital to come out and vote Tuesday.

“We need to change how things are going in America,” Jameson said.

His most pressing concern was the state of the economy. Jameson thought it was not as strong as the government has made it seem, and wants to see it improving. He also was uncomfortable with the immigration situation, and thinks the government should be more careful about vetting those who want to come into the country.

Jameson voted a straight Republican ticket, because that’s the party that will make the most impact on those issues, he said.

Voters sort through candidates

Neither of the two candidates for president inspired much confidence in Aaron and Amber Brown as they came out to vote at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin.

But that didn’t stop the Franklin couple from exercising that right.

“It’s our duty as a citizen,” Aaron Brown said.

They didn’t say who they voted for, but said it was a situation of choosing the lesser of two evils.

“It was a very convoluted mess this year,” Aaron Brown said.

Deciding who to choose for president was difficult this election. Luckily, the process of going to polls was not. The couple had cast their ballot within 10 minutes of arriving at the polling place, missing the long lines they had heard about earlier.

“We were in and out,” Aaron Brown said.

 

Early voting turnout set at record in Johnson County this year. Here’s more information on that:

http://www.dailyjournal.net/2016/11/08/early_voting_concludes/

Earlier today

No lines at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin

By 10:30 a.m., the line to vote at Grace United Methodist Church was non-existent for the first time all day.

Voting machines lined the wall, with many of them empty or waiting for the inevitable later day rush.

People walked into the polling place, and minutes later were done casting a vote.

GUMC

It hadn’t been like that earlier, said poll inspector Sandy Weddle. The first voters showed up at 4:45 p.m. to wait until the doors opened. By shortly after 6 a.m., the line stretched outside.

“For about a hour and a half, they were out the door,” Weddle said.

But even with the large volume of people coming out to vote, Election Day had been going smoothly.

Poll volunteers were enjoying the lull in the action, knowing that a late push of voters would come soon enough. Weddle was expecting lines to build back up starting around 3 p.m., as people get off of work, and lasting until after polls close.

“We opened on time, hopefully we’ll get to close on time,” Weddle said. “But it’s been really good so far.”

Short wait at White River Public Library branch

After a 45-minute wait earlier today, voters are now waiting about 15 minutes at the library branch off State Road 135, at 1664 Library Blvd., Greenwood.

wrt library
Voters wait in line at the White River branch of the Johnson County Public Library. The wait was down to about 15 minutes by 10 a.m.

Report from vote center at Mount Pleasant: Voters waiting about an hour

And this year, the wait at the popular vote center is much warmer.

Unlike in previous years, the church set up its lines so all of the voters could be inside, even with a wait more than an hour long, said Jennifer McCarty, who was campaigning at the church for her husband Johnson County Council candidate Josh McCarty.

Voters wait in line at the vote center at Mount Pleasant Christian Church in the Center Grove area on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016.
Voters wait in line at the vote center at Mount Pleasant Christian Church in the Center Grove area on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016.

Initial wait times getting shorter at Community Church of Greenwood

Voters were lined up by 5 a.m. at the vote center at Community Church of Greenwood on Main Street. The initial wait time was about 45 minutes, but has dropped to between 15-30 minutes shortly before 8 a.m., poll worker Valerie Sperka said.

Voters in line at the vote center at Community Church of Greenwood just before 8 a.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016.
Voters in line at the vote center at Community Church of Greenwood just before 8 a.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016.

Standing by the exit, Sperka thanked people as they left after voting.

She began helping out at the polls back when Ronald Reagan was running for president in the ‘80s.

Sperka’s mother was the one who introduced her to helping out with elections, and she has done it on and off ever since.

“I followed in her footsteps,” she said.

Sperka said she believes it is her civic duty to assist with the election and support the democratic process.

She is working as a floater, meaning she can fill in for the clerks or election judges as needed. A staff of 11 are on hand at the church with 20 voting machines.

Vote center at Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria: “I have never seen anything like this”

With three times as many voting locations as four years ago, poll workers at one of the busiest voting locations in Johnson County were well prepared for the onrush of voters early this morning.

“Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The polls are now open,” said inspector Allen Distler at 6 a.m. at the vote center at the former Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria in Greenwood, after spending a few minutes giving instructions to the first couple dozen voters in line.

And voting was underway, or almost, as it took a few knocks to the front door to remind poll workers inside that they needed to unlock it.

The line, filled with at least several hundred voters, snaked its way through the building, out the front door and around the side of the building. Voters positioned near the front of the line had arrived shortly after 5 a.m.

With 11 poll workers and 30 voting machines, staff are ready to handle the crowds, Distler said.

The goal is for everyone to be happy when they come in and happy when they leave, he said.

Distler has been working the polls for more than 25 years.

“I have never seen anything like this,” Distler said.

Everything has been going smooth so far, he said.

His advice to voters: grab a sticker and make sure you tell people you voted.

Handling the stress

The stress of election season is even getting to the kids.

Grace McCarty, 11, was out campaigning for her father, Josh McCarty, who is running for the Johnson County Council.

Grace McCarty, 11, tapes handles on the sign she was holding while electioneering outside the Mt. Pleasant Christian Church in Greenwood. This is on election day November 8, 2016.
Grace McCarty, 11, tapes handles on the sign she was holding while electioneering outside Mount Pleasant Christian Church in Greenwood. This is on election day November 8, 2016.

“It’s stressful,” she said, when asked about her thoughts on the election.

Still, campaigning for her father beats being in school, Grace said.

Both Grace and her mother, Jennifer McCarty, were well prepared for the cooler weather with jackets and gloves.

They both arrived just before 9 a.m. to the vote center at Mount Pleasant Christian Church. They had to make a quick stop for breakfast before campaigning. Each of them stood with a sign, along with about 10 others who were lined up near them campaigning for other candidates on the ballot.

The mother and daughter have been to several other vote centers during the past week to make a final appeal to Johnson County voters during early voting.

“We support him 100 percent,” Jennifer McCarty said of her husband. “This is how God has called him to serve.”

A care package for voters

Voters exiting the polls at Mount Pleasant Christian Church had a pleasant surprise waiting for them outside.

Miranda Schubert of Keller Williams Realty was handing out election survival kits — paper bags with a water bottle, two cookies and a mint inside.

Miranda Schubert was passing out free election day survival kits containing a bottle of water, cookies and a peppermint. She was posted outside the poll at Mt. Pleasant Christian Church and her effort was a promotion for the Keller Williams Orion Realtor Group. This is on election day November 8, 2016.
Miranda Schubert was passing out free election day survival kits containing a bottle of water, cookies and a peppermint. She was posted outside the poll at Mount Pleasant Christian Church and her effort was a promotion for the Keller Williams Orion Realtor Group.

She prepared 200 bags, which she began giving out at 6 a.m. Approaching 9 am., most had already been handed out.

“Everyone loves free cookies,” she said.

Voters had three choices of bags: red, blue and a bipartisan brown. Some voters wondered if she had something a bit stronger.

“Everyone is asking where the booze is,” Schubert said.

This is your right

For one longtime Greenwood voter, the chance to cast a ballot is her God-given right, and she isn’t going to ever forfeit it.

Karen Bair has voted in every election since 1972, when Richard Nixon defeated George McGovern to earn a second term in the white house.

She’s not 100 percent certain of who she voted for in the race that took place 44 years ago, but as a lifelong Republican, she believes it was Nixon.

Her choice for president this year was Republican Donald Trump, and it wasn’t a difficult one, she said. She voted at the vote center at Community Church of Greenwood just before 8 a.m. today.

Voting is part of who we are as a nation, Bair said.

However, she isn’t a fan of early voting. Bair wishes voting only took place on Election Day.

Everyone should vote at the same time, Bair said.

Shorter wait at Community Church of Greenwood

Voters are getting through the line quickly at Community Church of Greenwood. The vote center is staffed with 20 machines and 11 workers. Voters are waiting about half an hour, inspector Marie Smith said.

5:45 a.m., Vote center at former Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria, Greenwood

Voting started at 6 a.m. this morning at the 24 vote centers across Johnson County. Twenty minutes before the voting machines opened, a line of several hundred voters stretched around the outside of the vote center at the former Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria.

Voter asks: How was I not the first? Early waits at little more than an hour

One Johnson County voter was surprised he wasn’t the first in line.

Anthony West arrived to vote at Jonathan Byrd’s cafeteria about 5:10 a.m, but eight other voters were already in line in front of him.

“I’m disappointed I wasn’t first,”  he said.

He wasn’t anticipating a line as long as the one wrapped around the voting center on the east side of Greenwood, but his wait wasn’t too long at least. He was out of the building by about 6:20 a.m.

He supported Ted Cruz in the primary, and said his vote for president came down to supporting someone he agrees with 15 percent of the time versus someone he agrees with 0 percent of the time.

He’s not sure what the turnout forebodes at the moment.

“We’ll be finding out,” he said.

State legislator candidate to voters: Do you have a dog?

That’s the question one candidate for the state legislature was asking voters lined up at the vote center at Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria early this morning.

Most candidates making a last minute push at the polls on Election Day hold signs or give out items such as mints or buttons.

Edward O’Connor, the Democratic candidate for the 58th district state representative seat, said he’s not a typical candidate.

“I’m a different breed,” he said.

He is challenging longtime state representative Republican Woody Burton, who has held the seat for 28 years.

Standing near the back of the line, the former veterinarian greeted each voter with the same question. Based on his polling at least, the rate of dog ownership is solid among voters.

“It will be a record election,” O’Connor said.

http://www.dailyjournal.net/2016/11/08/vote-centers-are-open-what-you-need-to-know/

Editors, reporters and photographers Michele Holtkamp, Annie Goeller, Scott Roberson, Ryan Trares, Jacob Tellers and Rob Goebel contributed to these reports.