Haircuts, manicures and vehicle maintenance often require an appointment and reminders, and voters might want to take the same care in setting their own time to vote.
Wayne County voters can cast ballots for a few hours on any day except Sunday, Nov. 3, before Election Day, which is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Some voters already have taken advantage of convenient opportunities to have their say over the last three weeks.
As of Saturday, Oct. 26, Tara Pegg with the Wayne County clerk’s office said 5,335 ballots had been cast so far. On that day alone, 618 voted at First Bank Kuhlman Center and 201 cast ballots at the courthouse.
Pegg also noted that the courthouse had 3,474 voters between Oct. 8-25.
Paper ballots
Presidential and governor races often draw voters who skip other elections. Those who haven’t been to Wayne County polling sites in the past couple of elections might wonder where the computers are.
Voters now use ink pens on their paper ballots. They need to fill in their chosen rectangles at least two-thirds full.
If voters cast ballots before Election Day, state officials require them to place their ballot in an envelope, moisten the envelope and drop it in a secure container. Election staff don’t open them until after 6 a.m. on Election Day. Through a secure assembly-line process of several people opening envelopes, stacking and scanning the ballots, no election employees will see both the voter’s name on the envelope and who they voted for.
On Election Day, voters will quickly scan their own ballot and receive a message on the screen saying it’s been recorded as it falls into the secure box.
During Whitewater Community Television’s “IN Focus” interview with Wayne County Clerk Debbie Berry, she said if voters make a mistake when inking their ballot, they should approach the inspector at their polling site to ask for another one. Poll workers will then follow a process to destroy the ruined ballot.
Berry, who leaves office at the end of this year, shared insights about election procedures and reflected on her 11 years as clerk during the program. The Sept. 19 episode can be viewed through WCTV’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/@WCTV112021/videos.
In-person voting
Wayne County offers flexible voting centers, so voters can pick the most convenient location for them.
- Four vote centers opened Monday and will be staffed from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 1. Those vote centers are: Golay Community Center, 1007 E. Main St., Cambridge City; New Testament Church, 752 W. Main St., Hagerstown; First English Lutheran Church, 2727 E. Main St., Richmond; and First Bank Kuhlman Center.
- Voters began casting ballots earlier this month at Wayne County Courthouse, 301 E. Main St., Richmond. Voting is available daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 1; from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2; and from 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 4.
- First Bank Kuhlman Center also will be open this Saturday for voting from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Wayne County Fairgrounds, 861 Salisbury Road N., Richmond.
- Finally, a total of eight vote centers around the county will be open from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5. In addition to the four centers mentioned above, voters can visit LifeSpring’s north campus, 5600 U.S. 27 N., Richmond; Centerville Christian Church’s Family Center, 106 E. Main St., Centerville; Mount Olive Baptist Church, 1108 N. H St., Richmond; and First Baptist Church, 1601 S. A St., Richmond.
For more information, call 765-973-9304.
How to get an ID
When going to the polls, Indiana voters must show a government-issued photo ID to cast their ballot.
Free IDs are available for those who don’t have a driver’s license and will be 18 or older on or before the election.
Driver’s licenses and IDs that expired after the last general election may be used as proof of ID for voting.
However, some might see the upcoming election as a reminder to order a new card at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch.
Richmond’s branch opens at 9 a.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. It closes at 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays. On Saturdays, BMV closes at 12:30 p.m.
In addition, all Indiana BMV branches will offer extended hours from 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, and from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, to issue ID cards and driver’s licenses to be used at vote centers. The paper interim credentials issued at the branch or those provided through internet transactions are acceptable for voting.
The list of required documents to get a Real ID to board commercial airplanes starting next May is at in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/real-id-overview/. For more information, call 888-692-6841.
Hear from local candidates
- Western Wayne News published Q & As with Wayne County’s six contested school board candidates in its Oct. 9 edition, along with an article about Indiana’s five judges who could be retained, and a constitutional amendment. Those articles can be found at WesternWayneNews.com/elections/.
- Whitewater Community Television offered its “IN Focus” election forums in October. Candidates in contested local school board races and U.S. Representative (Sixth District) were invited to participate.
“IN Focus” programs can be viewed through WCTV’s Facebook page at facebook.com/WCTVIndiana.
Who’s on local ballots?
Western Wayne, Northeastern and Hagerstown area voters can choose school board candidates this fall who will make financial and policy decisions for their districts.
Northeastern, Western Wayne and Nettle Creek each have a contested nonpartisan school board race.
- Northeastern: Patrick Barker and Angela “Angie” G. Smith, District B
- Western Wayne: Jenni Risch and Todd A. Patterson, at-large District D seat
- Nettle Creek: Candace M. Tramel and Julie Blaase, District A
Only a few candidates will face opponents (Indiana governor and attorney general, U.S. senator, 6th District U.S. representative, and president). Other Wayne County government and school board candidates are listed but face no opposition.
Hoosiers also can vote on one constitutional amendment and retention of three state Supreme Court justices and two Court of Appeals judges.
A version of this article appeared in the October 30 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.