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High Indiana early voting numbers set the stage for Election Day
Early voting numbers in Indiana are up. As of noon on Monday, more than 1.5 million Hoosiers had already cast their ballots.
LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - In Indiana, where the polls closed for early voting at noon on Monday, election officials are reporting high turnout numbers. At the same time, they are gearing up for what they expect will be a whirlwind of an Election Day.
"Both sides of the fence, voters are very passionate, and they want their voice heard, they want their vote cast," said Leann Angerman, assistant director, Lake County Board of Elections & Registration.
By Monday afternoon, more than 1.5 million Hoosiers had already cast their ballots, according to the Indiana Secretary of State’s office. In Lake County, Indiana, more than 25 percent of registered voters—roughly 100,000 residents—took part in the early voting process.
"For us that’s a huge number, and in fact, right now we are over the entire turnout from what the primary was," said Michelle Fajman, director, Lake County Board of Elections & Registration.
Election officials with the Lake County Board of Elections say there were steady lines at all 11 early voting sites on the eve of Election Day.
"They were all hopping, they were all busy, and people were happy to be there and voting," said Fajman.
"It’s always nice when there’s a lot of attention to it, and it energizes all the voters to come out," said Angerman.
In Lake County, there are more than 200 polling sites on Election Day. Locations expected to see the highest foot traffic include Lake Central High School in St. John, the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point, and St. Peter & Paul Macedonian Center, also in Crown Point.
Key races to watch in Indiana include the race for governor. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb was not eligible to run again this cycle, as he is now in the final months of his second consecutive term. In Indiana, there is no limit on how many terms you can serve, but the governor cannot hold the office for more than eight years in any given 12-year period.
That brings us to a tight race between Democratic candidate Jennifer McCormick and Republican candidate, U.S. Senator Mike Braun.
Another hot contest is the race for Indiana's 1st Congressional District between Democratic incumbent Frank Mrvan and Republican challenger Randy Niemeyer.
"I think one of the most popular races in this area is Indiana Congressional District 1, which is Lake County, Porter County, and a slice of LaPorte County," said Angerman. "It is one of the most watched races in the country, honestly, so we will be looking to that race to see how those numbers come in. It’s a race that’s been held by one party for a very long time, and now that there’s a challenger there, I think everybody’s looking to see what happens."
The results will be closely monitored at the Lake County Board Offices, where election officials will likely be working until the early morning hours of Wednesday.
"We’re watching all night long, for every precinct, every machine, we know what’s out, and we’re waiting for every one of them to come in and we don’t go home until the last vote is counted," said Angerman.
The polls in Indiana are open from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Tuesday. As long as a voter is in line by 6 p.m., they will be able to vote.