In 10 days, nearly 900 Wayne County residents have cast ballots through mail or in-person voting at the courthouse.
More voters are expected to join them as additional voting locations open soon, and the deadline to request a ballot by mail is this week.
Tara Pegg, Wayne County’s clerk of courts, told WWN that as of Thursday, Oct. 15, 889 early ballots had been cast.
Absentee voting began Oct. 6 on weekdays at the courthouse in Richmond, but new Saturday options are coming soon. The courthouse will be open for voting from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on two Saturdays, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31.
First Bank Kuhlman Center at 861 Salisbury Road N., Richmond, will also be open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 24 and Oct. 31.
Four vote centers (Golay Community Center, New Testament Church of Christ, First English Lutheran Church and Kuhlman) will be open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, through Friday, Oct. 30.
About the ballot
Wayne County voters have contested races for state senator, state representative and one judge. Depending on their location, some voters will choose candidates for school board, township government and county council.
All registered Hoosiers can vote for secretary of state, comptroller and treasurer, and their U.S. representative in Congress.
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 wwn.to/generalballot26.
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.
Western Wayne News’ Election Guide at wwn.to/election offers Q&As with local candidates, also published in recent print editions. It includes a link to the Indiana Capital Chronicle’s guide to statewide candidates.
Public questions
Indiana voters see 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 keeping three judges: Indiana Tax Court’s Justin McAdam and Indiana Court of Appeals’ Mary DeBoer and Paul Felix.
Previous Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed the trio. If the judges aren’t retained, Gov. Mike Braun would appoint new ones.
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
Thursday, Oct. 22, is the deadline for qualifying Wayne County voters to request absentee ballots be mailed to them.
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 when the polls are open can also ask to vote by mail.
Hoosiers can submit the ABS-MAIL form to request a ballot be mailed. They should contact their voter registration office for the required form before 4:30 p.m. Oct. 22 by calling 765-973-9226 or emailing [email protected], or downloading it at wwn.to/absballot.
To request an absentee ballot, 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.
Separately, the deadline to request a bipartisan traveling board visits a confined voter at home is noon the day before the election.
Early voting opportunities
At the Voter Registration Office, Wayne County Courthouse, second floor, 301 E. Main St., Richmond, through Nov. 2. Monday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Permanently closes at noon Nov. 2; Tuesday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturdays, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
At four vote centers, Oct. 26-30, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.: First Bank Kuhlman Center, 861 Salisbury Road N., Richmond; First English Lutheran Church, 2727 E. Main St., Richmond; Golay Community Center, 1007 E. Main St., Cambridge City; New Testament Church of Christ, 752 W. Main St., Hagerstown
First Bank Kuhlman Center will also be open Saturdays, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Learn more about how to cast your vote using the Verity Scan voting equipment at https://verifiedvoting.org/election-system/hart-intercivic-verity-scan/
For more information, call the Voter Registration Office at 765-973-9304 or 765-973-9226 or visit wwn.to/waynecovoters.
A version of this article will appear in the October 21 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
