Early ballots coming into Wayne County vote centers

Wayne County now has one Saturday’s worth of voting completed, and four vote centers opened this week.

After the Saturday, Oct. 24, voting concluded, 2,305 residents had cast ballots through voting by mail, in-person or with help of a traveling board. Of those, 1,861 were cast in person.

On that Saturday, 299 cast ballots at First Bank Kuhlman Center.

Tara Pegg, Wayne County’s clerk of courts, said the 2022 general election, which had comparable races, totaled 16,787 ballots.

Absentee voting began Oct. 6 on weekdays at the courthouse in Richmond, leading up to the Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Day.

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.

Western Wayne News’ Election Guide at wwn.to/election offers a range of election resources including links to a sample ballot, ballot machine details, how to request a travelling board visit, Q&As with local candidates and links to other related resources.

Public questions

Indiana voters see two ballot measures offering yes-or-no votes to amend the state constitution. A yes vote is in favor of making changes.

Public Question 1 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. If approved, courts would have more opportunities to deny bail.

Supporters see potential benefits of improved community safety and helping judges be proactive. Indiana lawmakers approved Senate Joint Resolution 1 in 2023 and 2026 to place the question on the ballot, as well as Senate Enrolled Act 2, which decides how courts would implement expanded authority to deny bail.

Critics say it violates Hoosiers’ right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty and to potentially put them jail before being convicted. The League of Women Voters of Indiana encourages a no vote, saying liberties given away aren’t easily reclaimed.

Question 2 asks whether judges of city or town courts (deciding cases such as misdemeanors, traffic or city ordinance violations) can live in the court’s county or the bordering county closest to the court’s city/town. Approving the amendment could provide more judicial candidates in smaller communities.

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.

Indiana State Bar Association members were polled as to whether the judges should be retained, and the results were positive. DeBoer’s approval rating was 89.5%; Felix was at 86.5%; and McAdams was at 88%.

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.