Early in-person voting at FairOaks Mall for the Nov. 3 presidential election continued to re-write the record books this week, with nearly half of registered voters in the county having already cast ballots with four days to go before Election Day.
On Friday, 1,349 people cast ballots at the former Carson’s space at the mall, the highest number so far, raising
the weekly total to 5,652 votes. That is on pace to surpass the 5,738 ballots cast last week, said Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps.
About 40 voters were in line on Friday when the polls closed at 5 p.m. and the last vote Friday was cast at around 5:20 p.m., Phelps said.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Overall, a total of 18,848 people have voted at FairOaks Mall since early in-person voting started on Oct. 6. Additionally, 6,543 absentee-by-mail ballots have been cast, raising the total turnout to 25,391, or 48% of registered voters.
By comparison, a total of 16,161 votes were cast before Election Day in 2016 — a record at the time. In 2012, 6,413 were cast before Election Day, and 6,357 in 2008, Phelps said. Total turnout was 33,198 in 2016.
Phelps said he is expecting an even higher turnout on Saturday.
“Between tomorrow and Monday, I think we’ll be at 50% before Election Day even gets here, which is just unbelievable, historic,” he said.
Record numbers of Americans have turned out to vote early across the country, with more than 56 million already casting ballots, The Associated Press reported.
Election experts are suggesting that as many as 150 million Americans may vote early, according to wire reports.
Last week, the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office said more than 1 million Hoosiers have requested an absentee ballot or voted early in the Nov. 3 presidential election.
Bartholomew County voters only have two more chances to vote early in-person at the former Carson’s store, including Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday from 8 a.m. to noon.
Additionally, local election officials must receive absentee-by-mail ballots by noon on Election Day. Ballots can be returned in person at the Bartholomew County Courthouse, 234 Washington St., but no early in-person voting is taking place at the courthouse.
Earlier this week, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 4445 Ray Boll Blvd., announced that it will have extended hours on Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for people who need driver’s licenses or identification cards to vote.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”How to vote early in-person” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Early in-person voting will be held at the former Carson’s space at FairOaks Mall today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday. No voting will be held at the Bartholomew County Courthouse.
Visit indianavoters.in.gov to check your registration status and see who is on the ballot.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
