Primary Election Day is tomorrow. Polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time. The election was delayed by 30 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a number of other adjustments have been made.
Starke County has reduced the number of polling locations to seven, but voters will still have to cast their ballot at the polling place for their specific precinct. The primary polling places are the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox, the North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Station, the James R. Hardesty Fire Station and Community Center in Hamlet, the California Township Fire Department, the Washington Township Community Building, the Koontz Lake Property Owners Association Building, and the San Pierre Fire Department. A map showing who votes where can be found below.
Pulaski County voters can cast their ballots at any of the county’s five vote centers. They’ll be located at the Pulaski County Highway Garage in Winamac, the Francesville Fire Station, the Medaryville Christian Church Annex, Monterey Town Hall, and the Star City Community Building.
Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson says steps are being taken to protect voters from COVID-19. “The poll workers will have the PPE. Voters will be offered hand sanitizer, if they like. We encourage voters to wear a mask, obviously, as they would wherever they went,” Lawson said during state officials’ COVID-19 briefing Friday.
In addition to president, governor, and U.S. representative, a number of local races are also on the ballot. Incumbent Starke County Treasurer Kay Chaffins faces a Democratic primary challenge from Monica Miller, with the winner facing Republican Lauri Manns Venckus in November. Meanwhile, four Republicans and five Democrats are seeking the three available Starke County Council seats.
In Pulaski County, two county commissioner seats are open. Republicans Mervin Lemeron, Charles “Chuck” Mellon Jr., and Robert Schultz are running for the District 2 seat, while Republicans Maurice Loehmer and Terry Young are vying to face Democrat Doug Denton in the race for District 1 commissioner. Seven Republicans and one Democrat are vying for the three at-large Pulaski County Council seats, while County Auditor Laura Wheeler faces a Republican primary challenge from Tim Hoffa Jr. The Winamac and Medaryville town councils also have contested races.
WKVI will have live election results from Starke and Pulaski counties after the polls close tomorrow.
