Cambridge City, Milton and Richmond voters may begin casting their ballots Wednesday, Oct. 11, for the council and/or mayoral candidates who they believe will be effective in shaping their community’s future.
Here are some tips about where to find information about candidates and the county’s polling places between now and Nov. 7.
Where to learn more
Before casting their ballots, voters are encouraged to hear what their communities’ candidates have to say about their qualifications and their priorities if elected.
Western Wayne News published responses from Richmond’s mayoral candidates and Cambridge and Milton council candidates in its Oct. 4 edition and Richmond’s council candidates in the Oct. 11 edition. Those responses also can be found at westernwaynenews.com/election as part of WWN’s election guide.
WCTV will air live candidate forums at 6 p.m. Thursdays featuring candidates in contested races.
Richmond mayor candidates will be interviewed on Oct. 12 and Richmond Common Council Districts 2 and 5 candidates will appear Oct. 19.
The two IN Focus episodes featuring candidates for Cambridge City and Milton councils and Richmond Common Council’s at-large seats already have aired.
Those shows can be viewed on demand through WCTV’s Facebook page or YouTube channel, or watched during replays on WCTV Channel 11 (see WCTV programming schedule inside today’s edition).
Where to vote
Votes can be cast on weekdays outside the voter registration office on the second floor of Wayne County Courthouse in Richmond on weekdays from Oct. 11-Nov. 6.
The courthouse and First Bank Kuhlman Center will be open for a few hours on the two Saturdays before the election.
Richmond will have two vote centers open the week before the Nov. 7 election at First English Lutheran Church and First Bank Kuhlman Center.
A total of six vote centers will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day. They are: Golay Community Center in Cambridge City; Milton’s town hall; and Mt. Olive Baptist, First Baptist and First English Lutheran churches and First Bank Kuhlman Center, all in Richmond.
Towns and cities are responsible for covering election costs during a municipal election. Wayne County is responsible for 2024’s expenses when governor, Congress and presidential candidates are among those on the ballot.
Wayne County Clerk Debbie Berry said election costs include both direct and indirect expenses such as programming machines to create the ballot, ballot paper and the envelopes they’re placed in, paying poll workers, licensing fees, vendor support, office supplies and truck rental for vote center setup.
Election expenses also include overtime for security, staff and associated reimbursement for meals, mileage and miscellaneous office equipment, printing toner and supplies.
These costs are calculated and divided by the number of voters in each town or city’s election, Berry said.
Early voting schedule
Wayne County Courthouse: Oct. 11-Nov. 6. Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays. Also open two Saturdays (Oct. 28 and Nov. 4) from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Final opportunity is Monday, Nov. 6, from 8:30 a.m.-noon.
Two early vote centers are open in Richmond: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30-Friday, Nov. 3, at First Bank Kuhlman Center, 861 Salisbury Road N., and First English Lutheran Church, 2727 E. Main St. In addition, Kuhlman will be open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, and Nov. 4.
Those two vote centers, along with others, will be open from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 7).
Absentee ballots
Voters 65 and older can request an absentee ballot via mail. They can find forms at indianavoters.in.gov or request one by calling 765-973-9304. Requests for a mailed ballot must be received by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 26.
Voters who are confined to their home or care facility, and their caregivers, can request a bipartisan traveling board visit them. They must request a traveling board by noon Nov. 6.
A version of this article appeared in the October 11 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.