Election turnout initially slow

Voting on the first few days is usually less of a social occasion than running into a friend or neighbor at a bustling vote center on Election Day. 

However, the second floor of the courthouse offers voters a quiet place to reflect on who should represent them at the township, county, state and national levels.  

There’s also little to no wait after zipping upstairs via the elevator or climbing a few marble steps. 

According to Tara Pegg, who oversees Wayne County’s election as its clerk of courts, shortly before closing time Friday, April 10, 101 voters had cast ballots in person since the election began Tuesday, April 7. Another 76 ballots arrived via mail last week.

For the first time, voters must select their political party on the tablet computer at the clerk’s station in the polling location. Once voters enter their choice into the electronic poll book, they can’t change their primary ballot choice.

Voters can cast ballots at the courthouse between 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays and 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays. Or they can visit the courthouse on two Saturdays, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 25 and May 2, when no other offices are open. Voting ends at the courthouse at noon Monday, May 4. 

Four vote centers will be open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, April 27, through Friday, May 1. Two centers are in Richmond (First Bank Kuhlman Center and First English Lutheran Church). Golay Community Center in Cambridge City and New Testament Church in Hagerstown also serve as vote centers.

In addition, First Bank Kuhlman Center will be open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on two Saturdays, April 25 and May 2, for voting. 

Eight vote centers will be open across the county from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Election Day, which is Tuesday, May 5.

2 key dates

• April 23 is the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot by mail. Ballots can be requested by calling 765-973-9304, emailing voters@waynecounty.in.gov or downloading the form at indianavoters.in.gov/MVPHome/PrintDocuments. It must be received by 11:59 p.m. that day; a postmark is not sufficient. 

To cast a ballot by mail, voters must meet one of 12 qualifications including factors like being 65 or older, having a disability, caring for a confined individual, working for the full 12 hours the polls are open or lack of transportation.

• May 4 at noon is the deadline for confined voters or their caregivers to request ballot delivery from a bipartisan traveling board. 

Who’s on the ballot?

Find voting resources and keep up on the latest election and candidate news using the Western Wayne News 2026 Primary Election Guide. Visit wwn.to/election or scan the QR code.

Wayne County voters can see a sample ballot before heading to the polls at wwn.to/primaryballot26.