There are several different ways to cast a ballot in the May 7 primary election.
Starke County Clerk Bernadette Manuel and Pulaski County Clerk JoLynn Behny say there are ways to vote if a voter cannot make it to the polls between 6 a.m and 6 p.m. local time on Election Day.
Voters may submit an application for a mail-in absentee ballot. Manuel said there is a deadline when an application can be submitted.
“The last day to request an absentee ballot [by mail] is Thursday, April 25 at 11:59 p.m. if you do it online,” explained Manuel. “If you want to contact the Clerk’s Office, it’s got to be before 4 p.m. We can’t take a voicemail on Friday morning at 8 a.m. requesting a ballot. It’s either in office by 4 p.m. on the 25th of April or at 11:59 p.m. if you go to www.indianavoters.com.”
Voters who are confined at home or a nursing home facility, or have a disability, and meet certain other requirements can request the Travel Board to come to the facility to help cast a ballot.
Military personnel serving overseas may also request a ballot.
Voters may also vote early. Early in-person voting starts next week. In Starke County, in-person early voting is April 9 through May 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday, May 4 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Monday, May 6 from 8 a.m. to noon CT at the Starke County Courthouse in Knox.
Two satellite locations will be open for early voting. Early voting at the satellite locations will be Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26 from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT at the North Judson-Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department at 209 N. Luken Street in North Judson. Early in-person voting will also be available Thursday, May 2 and Friday, May 3 from noon to 6 p.m. CT and Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT at the Koontz Lake Sewer District Building at 10625 E. Prairie Road in Koontz Lake.
In Pulaski County, early in-person voting will begin Tuesday, April 9 and continues weekdays through Friday, May 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, and Monday, May 6 from 8 a.m. to noon ET at the Pulaski County Highway Garage at 1131 N. U.S. 35 in Winamac.
Early voting will also be available Saturday, April 27 and Saturday, May 4 from 8 a.m. to noon ET at the Francesville Fire Station and at the Pulaski County Highway Garage.
Voters may also show up to any of the Vote Centers on Election Day to cast a ballot in the county in which the voter resides. Those will be discussed in Friday’s news and how a person can work at the polls.
