Mike Wolanin | The Republic People wait in line on the first day of early voting at the vote center inside Donner Center in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024.
Early in-person voting in Bartholomew County for the upcoming presidential election has continued at a fast pace this week, with turnout already nearly matching this year’s primary.
Nearly 3,100 Bartholomew County voters cast ballots this week at Donner Center as of 11 a.m. Friday, including about 750 people per day from Tuesday to Thursday, according to figures from the Bartholomew County Clerk’s Office.
In addition, a total of 1,213 local voters had voted absentee by mail as of Thursday.
Overall, about 7,366 people had voted early in-person or absentee by mail as of Friday morning. That figure, however, does not include additional absentee-by-mail ballots that local election officials received Friday morning.
So far, 14% of registered voters in Bartholomew County have already voted. By comparison, turnout in this year’s primary election was 17.75%, or 9,321 voters.
“We’ve had some big numbers,” said Bartholomew County Shari Lentz.
While early in-person voting has gotten off to a fast start through eight days, turnout so far has been a little lower than at the same point in the 2020 presidential election.
A total of 6,554 people voted early in-person through eight days in the 2020 presidential election, compared to 5,949 this year.
However, local election officials are anticipating turnout to increase the next couple weeks as the early voting period winds down.
Generally, more Bartholomew County voters turn out to vote toward the end of the early voting period, according to local figures.
“I really expect the next two weeks to be busy,” Lentz said. “…We’re thinking about taking in a couple extra (voting) machines, maybe one additional machine today.”
“We just hope that we continue to have these large numbers come in,” Lentz added. “It’s great that there’s a lot of interest around this election. I appreciate everyone’s participation.”
