Once again, Donner Center will be the main location for early voting in Bartholomew County.
Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 8., the former parks department offices in Donner Park will be open to those wishing to cast an early ballot on weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On Monday, the Bartholomew County commissioners agreed to pay the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department $4,900 to rent the building at at 739 22nd St. from Oct. 8 through Nov. 5.
An additional $1,650 will be paid to rent the conference room within the new parks offices in NexusPark (the former Fair Oaks Mall) for two days: Nov. 4 and 5.
Having the room on Nov. 4 is necessary for setting up and testing equipment, according to Taylor Seegraves of the Bartholomew County Office of Voter Registration and Elections. The conference room will become one of 14 voting centers open the next day for the general election.
Oct. 24 is the application deadline for voting absentee by mail. Residents are reminded that absentee ballots by mail are now only available to those who have an acceptable reason not to vote in person. Mail-in ballots must be received by 6 p.m. on Election Day.
On the two Saturdays prior to the election, two vote centers in Columbus will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. One will be at Donner Center, while the other is the Bartholomew County Governmental Office Building, 440 Third St.
Although NexusPark was originally considered the ideal centralized location for early voting, both Bartholomew County Clerk Shari Lentz and the county commissioners say there are good reasons for keeping Donner Center the main location for casting early ballots.
“Speaking for me, I do think it’s easier to get in and out of Donner, with early voting being the only thing happening there,” Lentz said. “It’s not as confusing. People don’t go into the wrong doors, and have to walk through the mall.”
In addition, local residents know where Donner Center is located, understand the building is easily accessible, and has more than sufficient parking, she said.
Locations of voting centers fall under the jurisdiction of the commissioners and the Bartholomew County Election Board, Lentz said.
“Let’s just see what the future has in store for Donner,” she added.
A decision was made to discontinue voting at the Bartholomew County Courthouse because the 150-year-old building is not easily accessible to those with limited mobility.
While there is an ADA-compliant ramp on the courthouse’s south side, the door at the top of the ramp cannot be left unsecured due to security concerns.
