Voting begins at courthouse

Shortly after the calendar flipped to October, voters could begin casting ballots for the November election.

In-person absentee voting began Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Wayne County Courthouse, 301 E. Main St., Richmond.

The ballot includes races where all Hoosiers get a say, such as secretary of state, comptroller and treasurer, and their U.S. representative in Congress.

Wayne County voters also have contested races for state senator, state representative and one judge.

Depending on location, some ballots include school board, township or county council races.

Voters can cast ballots at the courthouse from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays and 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays. The poll site will permanently close at noon Monday, Nov. 2, to prepare for the next day’s Election Day.

Wayne County’s election coordinators have placed sample ballots for each precinct (look for your precinct name and number in the top right corner) at co.wayne.in.us/clerk/election/voters_candidates.html.

Those unsure of their precinct can find it by checking their voter registration at indianavoters.com.

At the polls, voters will only see the candidates on their ballots that they’re eligible to vote for. Paper ballots and pens are provided.

For more information about voting, call 765-973-9304 or visit wwn.to/waynecovoters.

Voters also can use Indiana Capital Chronicle’s voter guide at indianacapitalchronicle.com/voter-guides/2026-general-election/ to learn more about statewide candidates.

Western Wayne News’ Election Guide at wwn.to/election will offer Q&As with local candidates. Profiles will be added leading up to the election.

Public questions

Indiana voters will have two ballot measures offering yes-or-no votes to amend the state constitution.

One involves whether suspects for crimes other than murder or treason should be denied bail if there’s a public safety concern and the proof is evident or the presumption is strong.

The other question asks whether judges of city or town courts can live in the court’s county or the bordering county closest to the court’s city/town.

Judge retention

Voters will be asked questions about retaining three judges: Indiana Tax Court’s Justin McAdam and Indiana Court of Appeals’ Mary DeBoer and Paul Felix.

To help voters make informed decisions about those judges, Indiana Supreme Court’s Office of Judicial Administration has created a website at courts.in.gov/retention.

That site includes biographical information, videos of oral arguments and a link to each judge’s written opinions.

According to Indiana Judicial Branch officials, Indiana has used a merit selection process for 50 years to choose and retain appellate judges.

Once appointed, a judge must stand for retention at the first statewide general election after the judge has served for two full years. If retained, the judge is then on the ballot every 10 years.

The retention system is designed to allow appellate judges to decide cases fairly and impartially, free from campaign finance considerations or partisan political influence.

Absentee ballots

Qualifying Wayne County voters have about two weeks to request absentee ballots be mailed to them.

The deadline is Oct. 22 for Hoosiers to submit the ABS-MAIL form to request a ballot be mailed. They should contact their voter registration office for the required form by calling 765-973-9226, emailing voters@waynecounty.in.gov or downloading it at wwn.to/absballot.

Wayne County’s voter registration office is open from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays in the courthouse.

Hoosiers must meet one of 12 criteria to vote by mail, such as being 65-plus or disabled, being confined for illness or injury, or caring for someone who is homebound. Those who work all 12 hours the polls are open can also ask to vote by mail.

Indiana has implemented a new requirement when requesting applications for absentee voting by mail. Voters must supply one of four pieces of ID: their state driver’s license or identification number, last four digits of their Social Security number, or a copy of a government-issued photo ID.