County residents look to beat rush, cast ballots as early voting begins

Hoping to avoid lines on election day, voters headed to the courthouse on the first day of early voting.

Tuesday was the start of early voting, where voters can cast a ballot in the primary races before election day at the Johnson County Courthouse. Early voting will continue at the courthouse through May 7, with some additional sites opening closer to election day.

About a dozen Johnson County residents took advantage of their first chance to vote after polls opened at 8:30 a.m., and by noon, more than 40 voters had made the trip to the courthouse to cast their ballots, Johnson County Clerk Sue Misiniec said.

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Jayne Fount, a retired Franklin resident, said she had always voted on election day before. But having recently retired, she decided to give early voting a try. Being able to avoid lengthy lines and come in and cast her ballot right away was a pleasant change from how hectic election day can be, she said.

Fount, who voted in the Democrat primary, said she was surprised not to see more voters, especially with how many important issues are facing the country.

“I’m afraid a lot of people don’t feel like it is important,” she said.

Primary races for Johnson County sheriff and the U.S. Senate are likely to be important races for voters, Misiniec said.

Franklin resident Don Emerson routinely makes sure to take part in early voting, partly to avoid lines common on Election Day and partly because of how important he believes it is to take part in each election, he said.

The biggest decision he said he had to make this election cycle was determining which of the three candidates in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate would get his vote, he said.

For Emerson, the choice came down to who he trusted the most to carry out President Donald Trump’s agenda if elected to the senate, such as getting a border wall built to address illegal immigration, he said.

Having had a two-year break since the last election, Misiniec said she was pleased that everything went smoothly without any complications Tuesday morning.

She expects turnout to gradually ramp up as election day, May 8, approaches.

Stephanie Allender, who has been a poll worker for about a decade, used some of the down time between voters to prepare the “I voted” stickers that they hand out.

She most enjoys all the people she gets to see and meet while working, recalling times where she has been able assist voters with disabilities in making sure they were able to fill out their ballot.

“You get every facet of life,” Allender said. “Everyone comes to vote.”

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

Tuesday through May 7, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

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

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 28 and May 5

8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. May 7

April 28 and May 5, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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

Vineyard Christian Church, 512 S. Madison Ave., Greenwood

Johnson County Courthouse

Edinburgh Public Library, 119 W. Main Cross St., Edinburgh

April 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Greenwood Village South Retirement Community, 295 Village Lane, Greenwood

May 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Otterbein Senior Lifestyle Community (formerly Franklin United Methodist Community), 1070 W. Jefferson St., Franklin

May 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Indiana Masonic Home, 690 State St., Franklin

May 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Vineyard Christian Church

Mount Pleasant Christian Church, 381 N. Bluff Road, Greenwood

Trafalgar Public Library

Edinburgh Public Library

May 5, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mount Pleasant Christian Church

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