Early voting opened last week with a bit of a flourish: Greater numbers than in the last municipal election turned out to cast their ballots at the voting center at NexusPark. That’s an encouraging sign as Columbus residents select a new mayor and vote in several competitive races for city council.
We liked what voter Tina Boddie told The Republic’s Jana Wiersema about casting a ballot in the city election: “I cannot complain if I don’t vote.” Boddie said she and her husband, Charles, never miss an election and make a point to vote early.
“No congestion, no pressure, no stress,” Charles said of voting early at NexusPark, 2380 25th St.
You can take advantage of the ease of early voting at NexusPark from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and until noon on Nov. 6. On upcoming Saturdays, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, early voting also will be offered at both NexusPark and the Bartholomew County Government Office Building, 440 Third St., from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Additionally, there is still time to request an absentee-by-mail ballot. The deadline to request those ballots from the Bartholomew County Clerk’s office is Oct. 26.
And of course on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, voters will be able to cast ballots at any of these voting locations:
- Flintwood Wesleyan Church, 5300 25th St.
- St. Johns Masonic Lodge, 4131 Rocky Ford Road
- NexusPark, 2288 25th St.
- Donner Center, 739 22nd St.
- River of Living Water Christian Church, 51 N. Brooks St.
- Bartholomew County Government Office Building, 440 Third St.
- Terrace Lake Church, 4260 W. County Road 200 S.
- Westside Community Church, 124 Tipton Lakes Blvd.
The Republic does not endorse candidates for public office, believing instead that we better serve the community by providing information to voters about the candidates, their views, visions and priorities.
Over the past several weeks, The Republic news pages have carried profiles of the candidates in contested races and continuing coverage of candidate forums and local political news, all of which is available online at therepublic.com.
Here are the candidates in contested races in Columbus:
Mayor
Mary Ferdon (R)
Sean Burton (Independent)
City Council District 1
Nick Slabaugh (D)
Christopher Lee Bartels (R)
City Council District 2
Elaine Hilber (D-incumbent)
Victoria Griffin (R)
City Council District 3
Jerone Wood (D-incumbent)
Sue Norman-Chapple (R)
City Council District 4
Keegan Hill (D)
Frank Miller (R-Incumbent)
City Council District 5
Eric Riddle (D)
Kent Anderson (R)
City Council District 6
Bryan Muñoz (D)
Jay Foyst (R)
City Council At-Large (vote for three)
Tom Dell (D-incumbent)
Paul Hoffman (D)
Grace Kestler (D-incumbent)
Josh Burnett (R)
Alex Engelbert (R)
Christopher Rutan (R)
City Clerk
Quisha Jackson (D)
Luann Welmer (R-incumbent)
To learn who is on your specific ballot, visit indianavoters.in.gov/ and click on “Who’s on the ballot?” to find which races will be on your ballot. While all ballots will contain races for mayor, clerk and at-large council candidates, each resident will also vote in a council district race determined by where you live.
Take the time to learn about the candidates and cast your ballot for those you believe will best serve our city.
